Our Own Worst Enemy

^{26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:26-27, 31 NIV}

As I meditated on this Scripture, I realized that I am my own worst enemy. The whole chapter 8 of Romans tells us that God’s Spirit lives within us and empowers us against our sin nature…Then why do we sin? I think Paul said it best in chapter 7 just before he explained how we overcome our propensity to sin, “15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15. Paul was not immune to a sinful nature and we have but to look to look to David to see others who fell and that we fall to our sin nature, as well.

In Psalm 51, David is repenting of his sin with Bathsheba.  If God’s Spirit is what equips us for righteousness, is there any wonder he cried out, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:11. So, are we immune to our own sinful nature? NO! Does this give a license to sin? In the words of Paul, “May it never be!” So, how do we reconcile all this sin nature, righteousness, and grace? We must remember Paul’s words, “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39. If we are living by the Spirit, we are His and nothing can separate us from Him and I’m guessing that includes us. Oh, but wait…we can distance ourselves from Him just as David.

Stay with me here (I have a point, I promise!)  If God's love can never be separated from us and His Spirit is in us, His love is in us. His Love covers our sins. If we look at what Peter said, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” 1 Peter 4:7-9, we can see that our love for others (through Christ) will cover a multitude of sins. How? I’m not positive; I have to admit. But, if we love others  the way Christ loves us, this must be the answer to the equation. 

This Christmas, let us all remember the reason he came to live…to die. Not just to die, but to redeem us by His blood and great Love for us. This is the best gift to give others this year. Gifts (things) will come and go, but His grace is forever. I challenge all who read this to give the gifts of love, mercy, and grace to those you love…to those you encounter at the post office…to those in the checkout line…to the least of these. We may be our own worst enemy as far as our own sinful nature, but we do not have display this side of ourselves to the world. They have enough enemies as it is!

The Brightest Sky

 ¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrew 1:1-4


If you've every watched a sunrise when the fog was thick or there were a few clouds hazing up the sky, you know exactly where the sun is by virtue of the brightest area in the sky. I love that He speaks through His creation. I love that He has provided us with His Word to confirm the life-lessons He speaks to our hearts.

As I was enjoying my time with Him this day and being very thankful for the many ways He chooses to reveal Himself to us, I couldn't see the sun, but I could see where the sun was coming up at because it was brightest in that area. That got me to thinking...(see I have MBA...Measurable Brain Activity that early)..."It's always brightest right around the sun." No brainer, right?

If I were to look at Bible studies like Anne Graham Lotz "Just Give Me Jesus" or "Pursuing More of Jesus", I think I would see that she "got it." I mean the closer we get to Jesus the more we shine His light. When Jesus said in John 8:12 "¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" That's pretty self-explanatory. He tells us in John 15:4-5 that if we abide in Him, He will abide in us and apart from Him we can do nothing. Staying close to Jesus keeps our light bright in a darkened, fallen, and sinful world.


So, today I encourage you to enjoy the Sonshine! Thanksgiving is a great time to be thankful for His presence in the form of His Holy Spirit. Can you imagine our world without His presence? Let's not take Him for granted. We are His light, so let's be the brightest "sky" that we can!