Don’t Worry… Be Happy
Choose Your Yoke – Part XIII
Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:1-8
Key Verse: Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
In yesterday’s devotional we studied the fact that our faith in Jesus results in us being a whole new person “inside”. The Bible calls us a “new creation” in Christ. What does a “new creation through Christ” do in daily life?
The answer is: good works. The Apostle Paul makes this clear to the believers in Ephesus:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Think about God’s love for all of us. God bases His salvation to mankind not on merit but on faith. This gift God gives us is not because of good works, so no one can boast, thinking that they have earned God’s favor.
Out of that newly created nature that God gives us, good works start to be a natural thing. If anyone must force themselves to do good works, then it is doubtful that they have experience the true work of God.
The temptation that comes to those that have walked with the Lord for many years is to start thinking they are acceptable or unacceptable based on what we have done or not done. We can get lazy and become “lukewarm” in our faith. However, when that happens, the Holy Spirit convicts us and directs us back to our love for God, through Christ.
Some ask, is it possible for a lukewarm Christian to rebel and continue to live for the cravings of the flesh? Yes, this situation can come about. The good news is that it does not come about easily.
The Holy Spirit becomes like a “hound of heaven” to continually draw that person back to God. If that person does not come back, they have to fight off the Holy Spirit again and again… hardening their hearts more and more.
(If you want to read more scriptures on this subject, see: Revelation 3:15-16, 1 John 2:15-16, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Luke 6:46, Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13).
If you are a sincere believer, doing everything that you know to do to walk with the Lord and fight the temptations of the flesh, please claim Philippians 2:13 whenever the devil is causing doubt in your mind:
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
When God wants you to do some good work, He gives you the desire for that work. Do not run yourself ragged trying to do good works that God is not calling you to do.
Father, I want to do any good work that You want me to do. Grant me Your thoughts in my mind and desires so I know the works to do. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.