Do
you want to be a success? As the old
year passes and the New Year approaches we often take stock of how we did
during the past year and determine to do better in the next. This is the reason for New Year’s
resolutions. Often we see humorous
comics and cartoons regarding how people seldom keep New Year’s
resolutions. I read an article once
about how gym membership jumps every January as people determine they will lose
the weight they put on over the holidays, and then how it drops dramatically in
February and March because people let other things take priority. The article mentioned that the people who
maintained their gym membership and exercise regime were ones who joined and
exercised with a partner. Friends will
urge each other on to be successful. So,
let me ask again, “Do you want to be successful?”
“Even as [in His love]
He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart
for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in
love. For He foreordained us (destined
us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it
pleased Him…” –Ephesians
1:4-5 AMP
When
we believe in Jesus we are adopted into the family of God but that does not
mean we are perfect nor does it guarantee a successful walk in Christ. What makes the difference is that instead of
“going it alone” we choose to partner with Him.
When He is our partner He strengthens us where we are weak, where we are
lacking, and where we cannot measure up.
He makes us free to succeed.
So
what is the main force that prevents our success? The thing that ties us down and strangles us
is sin. Partnering with the Lord wipes
out all our sins. They are gone and we
are no longer hindered; we are free to succeed.
“Your sins were like a
big cloud, but I wiped them all away.
Your sins are gone, like a cloud that disappeared into thin air. I rescued and protected you, so come back to
me.” -Isaiah 44:22 ERV
Yet,
Jesus partners with us by adopting us into His family to free us from sin. Partnering means that two parties work
together for a common goal. When we accept
Jesus and what He did and continues to do for us, He adopts us into His
family. He makes us free to be fully
accepted by God and walk with Him in success.
“So Jesus said to the
Jews who believed in him, ‘If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you
are really my followers. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free.’ They answered, ‘We are Abraham’s
descendants. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be
free.’ Jesus said, “The truth is,
everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin. A slave does not stay with a family forever.
But a son belongs to the family forever. So if the Son makes you free, you are really
free.” -John 8:31-35 ERV
Is
it that simple? It IS that simple! Believe Jesus. That is our part, believing on Him. He sets us free from sin. That is His part, setting us free. This is the partnership. Does that mean that we never sin again? We do have the tendency to sin, but He has
freed us from the chains of sin that have held us down so when tempted all we
have to do is cry out to Him for help.
What does He do? He sets us free;
all we have to do is walk in that freedom.
Each time we walk in that freedom it makes overcoming the next
temptation a little easier. We find our
desires align up with those of Jesus.
The goodness manifested by His working that freedom from sin in our
lives will reach out to everyone around us to share Jesus so He can meet their
needs to be free as well.
“Awaiting and looking
for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed
One), who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our
freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly
His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is
good and filled with] beneficial deeds.” -Titus 2:13-14
AMP
In
conclusion: let me ask you again, “Do
you want to be a success?” Then quit
trying to change by your own efforts, partner with Jesus, and let Him set you
free from sin.
“So repent (change
your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be
erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from
the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of
the Lord;” -Acts
3:19 AMP
