Can We Endure Correction....

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.   Romans 7:18-20

Let’s pause for a minute on those scriptures.  Selah.  How many of us can relate to what Paul is saying here?  The battle of the spirit vs. the flesh is real!  It is a constant battle even for us in the body of Christ.

 For example, you have a disagreement with a co-worker, how many of us can say you rather cuss that person out than to still show the love of God to them?  You know you are married, but he/she looks so good that your flesh just desires to have that other person.   How about you are home alone and you know you shouldn’t be looking at porn by yourself, but you’ll sexually arouse and hey, no one will see you looking at it.

Here’s another thought: 

Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.  

Yes, God sees us.  He sees us when we are in the right and He sees us when we are in the wrong!  He sees what we are doing behind those close doors!

 Revelations 3:19

I correct and discipline everyone I love.  So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 

Meditate on that for a moment….

When God is correcting our ways, why do we get mad at Him?  Why can we come up with excuses when He shows us the truth about ourselves?  For instance, I confess I have asked God why certain things have to be considered a sin.  Don’t you know this is 2011?  Yes, I have said it. 

The truth is we all want to cater to our flesh.  Catering to our spirit man crucifies the flesh, and let’s face it, it hurts when we are being dead to sin!  Yet knowing that God is only correcting because He loves, it should makes us want to do right by Him.

John 14:15

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

I come to find that we can’t just confess our love for God, but we must also show our love towards Him.  As we all have quoted “actions speak louder than words” towards each other, how much more so towards our walk in Christ!

Psalms 29:11

The Lord will give strength unto His people.  The Lord will bless His people with peace. 

Some can be prayed out, some can be word out, and some need prayer, fasting, and God’s word.  What a blessing it is to know that we can call on Him for help with our weaknesses and in return, He will give us strength.  Saints, the world need us to be powerful!  Let’s get our love walks right by confession, repentance, and then seeking His face for change.  Let’s not stay in our flesh with our weaknesses.  It will only lead to spiritual death.  I am learning there is a freedom in obedience, but the road to get there is mighty hard to follow.   Let’s appreciate His correction which is His love!  Stay encouraged.