Are You In Right Standing With God?

Romans 6:16 NLT

Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.

Our conscience will tell us right and wrong. We can ignore the warnings or heed them. Even those that have not known God or His Word have some idea of right and wrong. However, the more we decide to do the things we should not, the less likely any warning will stir us back to the correct path. We are warned that our hearts can be hardened and we can be left to our own devices.

Ephesians 5:5-7 NLT

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world. 6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible anger of God comes upon all those who disobey him. 7 Don't participate in the things these people do.

What we desire can become an idol for us. It blocks our view of knowing the right thing to do because all we want is the idol. In our culture this can be anything from a thing, person, and more likely some idea. Don’t get bent out of shape when life is not going your way in achieving what you think is best. We don’t always know what is best. This is why all Christians that accepted Christ are sent the Holy Spirit to be a helper and a counselor. Be sure you are paying attention to Him.

For some Christians, they think this means they should avoid the sinner. Jesus did not avoid the sinner because God’s love is there for anyone who will receive it. What we are not to do is turn from God and go into a lifestyle that is contrary to what God is telling us to live. We truly have more freedom and peace living God’s way. Christians should be doing their best to show the world God’s love and then we can show them how God’s way is better. If you don’t first do it with love, which is God’s way, they will not want to turn from the darkness blinding them to God.

Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT

So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17 Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19 Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have trouble with this all the time. I’m not perfect, but I can’t use that as an excuse. I make mistakes, but do my best to learn from them. I also am learning a great deal about my weaknesses, so in those I can let God be my strength. He works best through our weaknesses, which I find miraculous. It’s so contrary to the way we are taught to think in Western culture, but I’ve learned a lot more from any mistake I made than having done something right the first time. God’s grace and power pick me up and help me to try again to get it right.

Thank God for His power that helps you get through the trials of life.