Saturday, November 7

It Takes Only One Generation

Today’s Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:5–17
Key Verse: Colossians 3:8–10

Now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

Are you mastering your enemy, or is your enemy mastering you? Sometimes I think Christians go overboard with their “do-it-yourself” attempts to be humble and passive. The big problem is that Jesus did not ask us to be passive. He asked for all-out commitment and total obedience to His commands, and there is not a hint of passivity in those demands.

Do not sit there and think, Well, this affliction exists just to keep me humble. That is a lie out of the pit of hell. Paul talked about a “thorn” God permitted in his life, but that did not come his way because he was sitting at home whimpering. He was battering the gates of hell with every ounce of strength he had, and he only increased his efforts when the affliction came.

God’s plan called for the Israelites to invade and conquer the promised land quickly. Their hesitation, doubt, and unbelief brought their progress to a halt in the first generation. As for people of the second generation, they hit the ground running and took the land within one generation! They were so bold that their reputation went before them. Their enemies were shaking in their boots long before the Israelites ever showed up to knock on their door.

The time has come for you to master what has mastered you for so long. And God says, “Do it quickly!”

Today's Prayer:

Holy Father, I will do it. I am ready to pull off the old and put on the new. I will not let up and I will not stop until I am clean and free to do Your will.