Ephesians 3:16 ‘That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;,’
BIBLE READING:
Jeremiah 45-48, Psalms 25
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‘The Last Supper’ is one of the most famous artworks in the world. It was painted in the 15th century by the multifaceted genius Leonardo da Vinci. Through the painting Da Vinci. wanted to depict what he called the “motions of the soul.”
It is said he carefully searched for the right people to sit as his models for the painting of Christ and His disciples. For the character of Christ, he found a young man named Pietri Bandinelli, who was a chorister at Milan Cathedral. Pietri had the features of purity, love, tenderness, caring, and kindness that reflected Christ to Da Vinci.
After he used Pietri Bandinelli as his model for the painting of the Lord, Da Vinci spent more years painting the other disciples. To paint Judas Da Vinci looked for a model whose face was streaked with despair, wickedness, greed, and sin.
Ten years after starting the painting, he finally found a man in prison whose face wore all the qualities of Judas for which he had been searching. Consent was given for the prisoner to pose, and he sat as the model for Judas. But at the end of the painting the prisoner shocked Da Vinci when he started weeping. The man said to him “Don’t you remember me? I am Pietri Bandinelli—years ago I was your model for Jesus.”
Unbelievably, the once-innocent looking face had drastically changed. In the past ten years, he had turned his back on Christ and turned his life over to sin and the world. As a result the face which had shone with purity now reflected evil.
It may seem inconceivable how such a drastic change could have occurred in Pietri Bandinelli’s life, but that is what can happen if sin is allowed to run rampant.
As believers, the important thing is not really about how we start but about how we finish. The moment we give our lives to Christ, we begin the most important race of our lives. Though we may start well, as the race progresses, we often face hurdles of temptation and a constant struggle with sin.
Consistently reflecting Christ is a responsibility we must take seriously.
We must strive to overcome the battle against the flesh daily.
In Romans 7:21–23, Apostle Paul recognizes the battle of the sinful nature within him when he says, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.’
The most aggressive enemy of the believer is the “sinful nature” or the “flesh.”
Any believer who fails to control the flesh may end up with a life that no longer reflects Christ.
And the way to control the flesh is through being strengthened by the Spirit of God in our inner man.(Ephesians 3:16).
Once born again does not mean always born again. We must jealousy guard our salvation.
In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
By God’s grace we will always be victorious over the flesh and every temptation of the enemy.
Today, let us commit ourselves to diligently study God’s Word so as to be imparted with the faith and power to constantly overcome in every situation and reflect Christ to our world.
PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to pay the required price to study Your Word and be empowered by Your Spirit to overcome the flesh and constantly live a Christlike life in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.
Shalom!
@GOODHEART-EKWUEME
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