The day I received Jesus, I immediately sensed an internal presence leading me in a way of life that starkly contrasted with how I previously lived. I was a new creation with the Holy Spirit living in me. But after a few weeks, my spiritual high faded, and I felt the battle for my heart start.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” –Galatians 5:16-17, ESV
The Struggle of Fighting for Faith
The call of every believer is to fight the good fight of faith—daily deepening our relationship with Jesus. His ways are upside down to our natural tendencies. Upon belief, our whole way of thinking shifts to things above, and our actions reflect compassion, kindness, humility, and forgiveness. And that’s a struggle against our flesh.
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” -Mark 8:35-36, ESV
Losing Your Life for Christ
We’re called to lose our lives for the sake of Christ and the gospel, and we do that by seeking Christ’s will and following Him in all phases of life. We’re called to leverage where He’s placed us for His glory by taking the gospel public, thereby changing lives as we lead others to find Jesus as their Savior.
This is where joy comes into full maturity because, as Christians, losing our lives leads to us finding a life of significance and ultimate meaning.
“‘But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”-Acts 20:24, ESV
Lord, life is found in You alone. Empower us with Your Spirit to be faithful to that call today. Amen.
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