Spark2Flame

Each of us is built differently. I probably like things that you don’t and vice versa. That ultra-rich dessert is tempting to some while others shun it for various reasons.

One thing that seems to be universally tempting at one point or another for Christians is trying to achieve something by keeping a set of rules. Paul told the Galatians in chapter 3,

Do you ever ask yourself, Why is this so appealing? The experience of God’s grace and truth meeting us as we accept the free gift of salvation that we didn’t earn and will never deserve but are able to receive because of His love—that’s incredible! Once it’s made real by the work of the Holy Spirit, why do we want to live any other way?

The short answer in my view is pride. We start feeling we are important to the process, and while we make decisions, obey or disobey, we need to see ourselves in the proper perspective.

It always happens subtly. I may be leading worship, preaching, or just praying or reading the Bible—thoughts start creeping in that point me back to myself and my inherent awesomeness (quit laughing) then I start buying the lie that I had anything to do with what God is doing.

The key is catching those thoughts before they get away from us. If we don’t act quickly, they breed like rabbits and Paul’s not just talking to the Galatian church anymore. He’s talking to us.

I want to live in the Spirit and not fall prey to trying to earn it or follow my rules to gain acceptance. I’ll fail, maybe even today, but I appreciate and am thankful that He is always there to lead me back.

The more I resist the temptation, the more I allow freedom to work. What a great hope we have!