Fighting Human nature

Fighting Human Nature
It is a very difficult balancing act when you are a Christian. Every minute of the day, we fight against our own human nature. Human nature is naturally sinful. You may react to that statement as I first did. I was defensive and argumentative saying that ‘I am not sinful or evil. I am a good person and I don’t do bad things, I just make bad decisions now and then.’ [However, Romans 3:23 says “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”]

If we are honest, we know how many times we think bad thoughts about others. By nature, we try to be nice but inwardly we tend to be judgmental, negative, unloving, unkind, impatient, selfish, rude, superior in thought and acts, oblivious to those in pain, envious of what others have, jealous, insecure, self-destructive... to name only a few of the less malicious thoughts. It isn’t just me, I know. It is every one of us.

We should be constantly at war with our sinful nature. Taking every moment to improve upon our thoughts and behavior. We hear the Holy Spirit inside us warning us not to do that wrong thing, but sometimes we just don’t listen. [John 16:7-8– Christ told them that He had to go away but “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”] Some of us tend to put on our Sunday best smile and “Hallelujah’s” when we are in church, but come home and growl at each other. [Matthew 15:11– “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”]

Don’t be discouraged though. Over our lives we can work to eradicate the sinful nature by catching ourselves in the act and immediately asking God for strength and forgiveness. I also find it easier when I surround myself with God’s word, prayer, sermons (online or on TV), being giving and uplifting to others as a way to humble my noisy sinful nature. The more I invest in the God and positive activities, the easier it is to find the peace and connect with the Holy Spirit inside me. The best part of it all is that Christ died on the cross for our sins. [Ephesians 2:8-9– “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”] As Christians, God loves us. He knows we are weak. He knows we need the Holy Spirit to keep us on track and be our little internal conscience. That is why Christ died on the cross for our never ending sins, and that is why He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Until next time, practice putting down that sinful nature.