To say that we serve a God who is full of love and is rich in mercy, is very truthful.
However, that same merciful God also requires order and holiness. (1 Peter 1:15-17). Just recently I began to realize how God’s mercy, love and the requirement of holiness are all beautifully joined together. God’s love and mercy were a driving force for the harsh sacrifice he made on the cross. That sacrifice grants us forgiveness, a newness of life, eternal life, and the power to live righteously.
I just want to encourage those of you who may feel defeated right now. Maybe you feel as if you’re hopelessly falling into the same sinful traps over and over again. Despite all of that, you still have the desire to serve God. God sees your desire to live for him. And, guess what?! He actually put that desire into your heart and he wants to help you live for him! (Philippians 2:13) The word of God says that Christ overcame the world. (John 16:33) There is no sin that Christ left uncovered. He overcame it all! Christ has made us free! (John 8:36) Through his Spirit, we have the power to live holy. We have the power to resist temptation. Through Christ, we can be counted as righteous in the eyes of God.
What does that mean? That means that we must deny ourselves. This is something that must happen on a daily basis. We must surrender ourselves to God over and over again. Surrender our thoughts, our actions, and our motives to God. Surrendering to God is more than just an emotional expression. We have to allow our actions to follow our confession. The word of God instructs us to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. (Galatians 5:16-26) As we walk in the Spirit, we are able to produce the fruits of the Spirit. In other words, we are able to commit acts of holiness as we walk in the Spirit of God.
There is nothing that this world can offer that is greater than the love of God. The least we can do is serve him.
God, you’re so good to us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for keeping us. Thank you for making salvation possible. Thank you for giving us a newness of life. Thank you for giving us eternal life. Help us to walk in your truth on today and everyday. Amen.
How has this article encouraged you? Comment below.
About the Author:
Arianna Siler is currently a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She leads “Infinite Focus UAB” a campus ministry that allows her to reach others across campus.
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