The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way whatsoever. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought. The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God’s best. Once we come to understand that natural moral excellence opposes or counteracts surrender to God, we bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle.

Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ. “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh….” The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24). That is, he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.

The natural life is not spiritual, and it can be made spiritual only through sacrifice. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural, the supernatural can never become natural to us. There is no high or easy road. Each of us has the means to accomplish it entirely in his own hands. It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, and thereby performing His will.

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December 9 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, the first thing that hit me when I began reading this devotional was guilt. Guilt for not having overcome selfishness, greed, lust, anger, spite, fear…..well, You know. And then it occurred to me to look through the rear view mirror. Look at who I was then and who I am now. I also began to consider your reassurances like: There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. And Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Lord, is this what You would have me consider rather than my failures?

And God says…”The power of Jesus has conquered sin, death and condemnation. There is no reason at all for you to ever see your greed, lust, anger, spite, fear….any of it when you keep your eyes on Jesus. I do not see it. When you are focused on Jesus, when you surrender and give up your rights to yourself; your need to be right, look good, feel good and to be in control, observe what occurs. You are supernaturally transformed over time. You no longer need doctrine, facts, or even your own “perfect” behavior to assure you that you are mine. You just know because you are allowing Me in live within you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding, and I will make your paths straight.”