What Will You Leave Behind
What Will You Leave Behind
The new year is coming and everyone is thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. Not me. Well, not yet, anyway. Before we can be or do anything new – we should probably sit down a little baggage. You know, the things we have picked up along the way because of what we have experienced. Things like pride, insecurity, anger and being defensive or judgmental. You know – those types of things…baggage. So, what will you leave behind?
In 1 John 2:15-17, we are warned to not love the world. The world is ruled by Satan. I know that seems really weird and maybe a bit outlandish but, it is true. There is a battle going on for us. God loves us and wants us. While Satan does not love us – he loves to keep us from God. He can keep us from God by weighing us down with worldly baggage. Jesus came to set us free. In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” So in order to have this abundant life, what will you leave behind?
“For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16.
So, we should leave behind the lust of the flesh, of the eyes and the pride of life. Ready to sit those things down? Do you know what those things are? I am not sure either, so let’s dig a little deeper and figure this out. What is the lust of the flesh? This is referring to sinful sensual pleasures that include the gratification of our senses. This would include sexual sin and any loss of control over any of our passions – sex, food, drugs and alcohol, career, etc. The lust of the eyes refers to our covetousness or materialism. We so often want what we see. Satan helps us to believe those things will make us happy. That is such a lie. The pride of life refers to us being proud. It started with Eve. She had everything but wanted to be more. The pride of life includes anything that leads to arrogance and boasting, self-centeredness, and exalts us instead of exalting God.
God’s word is pretty direct when it comes to these things. He tells us that those who love the world “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). He tells us over and over and over to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. He says if we are in the flesh we cannot please God. (Romans 8:8) Obviously, we want to please God – otherwise I would not be writing this and you would not be reading it. So…what will you leave behind as this year comes to an end? My list is getting longer. What will we set down and walk away from? What will we stop doing that is feeding our flesh instead of feeding our spirit? Let’s decide what we will leave behind before we start this new year. That is the only way we can be new...better...changed in the new year.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new… Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ… For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, 20 &21)
Happy New Year!
Pam
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