A Friend of a Friend
Throughout our life we have choices, those choices all stem from our free will and if we chose to use our free will to follow Christ or follow the world. The world is all about our flesh and the struggle is hard. In Galatians, we can see the vast contrast between the two. “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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the worlds of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:17-26 ESVDo you see the contrast? The first the “fruits of the flesh” is all about self. It is things that are the opposite of the “fruits of the Spirit.” They are constantly at war within us. What we choose with our free will is so important. Are we going to choose the desires of the flesh that “feel good” but ultimately break us down and add bondage to us, or are we going to choose to submit to the Spirit and forsake our fleshly desires which are freeing us from the bondage of the flesh? That doesn’t mean we won't mess up. Just because we have forgiveness when we fall doesn’t mean we should think it is okay to pursue our fleshly desires. As Paul states: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4 ESV We must follow Christ. Follow his ways and follow his example. Before he was crucified on the cross he said this: “… Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36 ESVWe have a choice to make of our own free will. No one can choose it for us. It is our choice to make. No one can be a Christian for you. This is one thing I have talked about with my kids. Because growing up with people who say they believe in Christ made me think I was a “Christian.” I claimed to be a Christian my whole life. Yet, I did not follow him. I did not love him, and I did not have ANY fruit of the Spirit. I just knew about him. Let me clarify what I am talking about. When I was younger there were times when I read the Bible. They were few and far between. I knew of Jesus but I didn’t know him personally. I heard of him but didn’t communicate with him. I didn’t want to read my bible because it was so much easier to do other things. However, I told everyone who asked that I was a Christian. I was what is called a cultural Christian. I knew of Jesus, I knew he died on the cross, and I knew he was God. We can know about someone without knowing them personally. He was more like a friend of a friend but not really my friend. You can know things about a “friend of a friend” but that doesn’t mean they know you. It wasn’t until I wanted to meet this “friend of a friend” that I grew to know what it was like to be his. During that process, I learned that a lot of what I previously believed about him wasn’t accurate. That began my journey. I started off with fruits of the flesh but as a grew to know him he started fixing my heart my desires. That doesn’t mean all my fleshly desires are gone. It means I am a work in process. I’m not perfect. But my savior is and he will help me along the way. Now back to what I was saying about my kids. I tell them there will be a time when they have to choose to be a Christian or not. When they fully understand what that means. When they fully know what Christ did for them. Because we all get that choice. I cannot believe for them but I can point them in the right direction. Even though, we want to believe for someone or hope that they believe in Christ. It is ultimately them who have to choose. We can pray that the Lord will soften their heart, guide them to the truth, but we can not choose for them. God is still good. I hope this helps someone out there who has been struggling with the same thing. Sometimes I wish that I could ...
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