"I can't get
no satisfaction...but "i" can now"
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 How does the Hid-N-Life relate to my
affections? If I appropriate my identity in Christ by faith, I need
to also cooperate with God's Spirit as He "restores my soul."
This process of renewal in the mind, will, and emotions (Romans 12:1-2)
depends on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
An aspect of this renewal that has been
impressed upon me lately is that of renewing the affections. If Christ
is my life, I will delight in that which HE delights. My affections
will be directed to what is valuable to Him.
How prone the flesh is to delight in
the sensual and carnal desires of this fallen world. I recently heard
a great definition to help identify present day idols in the lives of
20th century Christians. One simple question will reveal
unhealthy delights. How would you respond if it is taken from you?
Idols are a very real addiction in our society today. This should be
no surprise to us as it is in the list Paul gave us for the
manifestations
of the flesh. James rebuked the early Christians for following after
their own lust or pleasures (James 4:1-3). Why else would John need
to caution us in his first epistle? 1John 2:15-16, "Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world." This delight to have,
be and do can be changed by the inside persuasion of a new spirit as
well as the Spirit of God.
The true believer has the blessing of
a regenerated human spirit - "the new man" (Colossians 3:10).
We have been made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Yet
the soul is still vulnerable to the forces of the world, the flesh,
and the devil. "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" 1 Peter 2:11.
When the Lord Jesus is functioning as
my LORD and LIFE, He will redirect my AFFECTIONS. What should we delight
in?
"Delight thyself also in the LORD;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
(Psalm 37:4)
Delight in God's perfect will -
"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."
(Psalm 40:8)
Delight in the Word of God - "I rejoice
at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil."
(Psalm 119:162)
Delight in God's moral principles -
"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:"
(Romams 7:22)
Delight in God's comfort - "In
the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."
(Psalm 94:19)
Delight in the Second Coming -
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the
end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ;"
(1Peter 1:13)
Delight in the blessing of eternal
fellowship
with God - "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence
is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
(Psalm 16:11)
Evan Hopkins wrote, "We shall seek
what we love and delight in. It is where our treasure is that our heart
will be also. 'Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is nothing
upon earth I desire beside Thee.' What are the things we are seeking?
It is those things that are filling our thoughts and attracting our
affections. It is upon these we set our wills and concentrate our
energies.
It is not difficult to seek what we love.
Will we ask God to search our heart and
redirect our affections to where they belong?
Our Father, we confess that our
affections
tend to get misdirected as we live by sight instead of by faith.
Illumine
us so that we will set our hearts on things above, where Christ, Who
is our life, is seated with You. Continually restore our soul by
redirecting
our affections to what is eternally worthy. Amen.
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