SIN…
- turns me into a self-appointed sovereign over my own kingdom.
- makes me self-absorbed and self-focused.
- causes me to name myself righteous.
- seduces me into thinking I am somehow smarter than God.
- causes me to trust in my own wisdom.
- makes me want to write my own rules.
- makes me resistant to criticism and change.
- makes my eyes and heart wander.
- causes me to crave material things.
- causes me to want and esteem pleasure more than character.
- causes me to forget God.
- causes me to stop over God’s boundaries in thought, desire, word, and action again and again.
That’s what is natural. What is NOT natural is for me to have a hunger to know what is right in God’s eyes; to care about His glory; to submit willingly to His will; to forsake my plan for His; and to find joy in surrendering to His lordship. THAT is unnatural! But it is also my experience with rescuing grace.
“Shall I continue in sin that grace may abound?” “Sin will have no dominion over me, since I am not under law but under grace.” “I have been set free from sin and have become a slave to righteousness.” (Verses from the suggested reading of Romans 6).
“Father, let me be unnatural. let me do the unnatural. Let me think the unnatural. Let my desires be unnatural. Let the unnatural begin. Let me be yours.”
The details you provide are spot on Bill!
Sin is a constant reminder of where I came from, what I once was… But Grace is a constant reminder of where I am going, and who and whose I am.
Grace broke the chains that kept me a prisoner… a slave to sin.
Now I have an option to choose the master that I will follow.
As you said… it is completely unnatural for me to choose God… The sinful nature within continually tries to convince me that I know what is best… That I should really be looking out for myself.
The unnatural, Grace empowering side says to go against the norm… To turn away from my selfishness and seek a new master. To seek a master that has my best interests in mind.
The freedom of grace allows me to choose… and it is a choice I will make often… sometimes second by second.
Ryan S.
So glad for the freedom of grace. WOW! What would it be like without it?
Embracing the unnatural today, Bill. It’s a daily need in my life, to submit fully to God.
Blessings!
I would agree with you Martha on a very big scale. I am blown away by the unnatural grace (as Ryan says).
Correct as usual, king Friday!
It’s so amazing how when we give in to God’s spirit and live above this fallen flesh how much internal joy we have. It’s so powerful that the world can see Him shining from within us.