Have you really put off your old nature and desires? It is a natural impulse to hold on to parts of you that appear authentic because it seems necessary in the world today. “Survival of the fittest”, “only the strong survive” , right? Don’t be so sure of that! God calls us to live super naturally in this world and not conform to it (Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:13, Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23). As a Christian Disciple, you have to put to death, natures and desires that are of this world and put on the new nature we were spiritually born into, when we gave our life to Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:22-24). If you have a nature or things you desire that hinder your walk as a Christian disciple, I have good news for you.
This journey called life can be disheartening and disallusional and you can attach yourself to natures or desires, which are sinful. You can even convince yourself that holding on to these seemingly vital parts of yourself, are for sheer survival. You justify that this nature or those desires are necessary, practical and you can even believe, that you are incapable of change.
Here are some natures and desires you may want to consider, and note, this list is not complete: aggressive, have to be perfect, have control, unaccountability, avoid truths, love of money, self centered, competitive, need to be sexy, lustful, tell little/big lies, think you are better than everyone else, judgmental, never wrong, tightfisted, self-indulgent, unforgiving, resentful, take offense easy, depressed, fearful, prideful, anxious, addictive behaviors, self pity, complainer, selfish, self-righteous, etc…
These temperaments and aspirations can ruin your walk as a follower of Christ (1John 2:15-17) and hold you captive to the very items, God has told us all, to put to death (the cross). So when the Holy Spirit convicts you or you hear a message that challenges you to give way to God, you can feel some resentment. Possibly hostility and I shudder to say, some rebellion towards God, which is sin. This type of sin occurs generally, because you’re old foundations (old ways) are being threatened and you have put your assurance in the counterfeit things of this world.
Tip:
This is how to discern if a nature or desire really needs to be put to the cross and given over to God. You will feel hostility and you may want to make excuses and justify its existence. Key Point- God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1John 1:5-7). The Light of God, his Truth(Word) and his messengers are offensive to the darkness, in all its forms, even the darkness that may lie within us.
Do you suffer from any one of those natures or desires, listed above? Check out Does Your Old Nature Need to Die? Part 2, in that post I will tell you the good news!
