out some of these lusts as he talks about adultery, fornication, un cleanness, envy, murder, drunken ness, strife, jealousy, hatred and wrath. How tragic that these un seemly qualities should character ize so many people's lives. It is un fortunate that some who are new creatures in Christ still produce fruit of the old nature. This should not be, and will not be, if we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control. But we have no hope with out a sure foundation in Christ. Re member Paul's challenge in verse 24, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affec tions and lusts." We are deliberate ly to turn our backs on the one- dimension-man who lives only for self and the flesh so that we may enjoy the fulness of our new rela tionship with Cod. Paul also says in verse 25, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." The particular term "walk" used here in verse 25 has in mind what could mean a row of fenceposts or a series of columns around a building. When an army was marching to battle they would assemble in rows or in a particular file. In the Biblical sense this then refers in the original to one who is walking by a certain rule or a prin ciple. This means we are to follow the standard of life which the Spirit would urge upon us. This includes those vital and important truths which He helps us to see in the Word of God. Thus we are to be a new person with a new walk, fol lowing a new conduct of life. There are also new desires by which we should be characterized. Too many have envious thoughts concerning the possessions of oth
ers. Some are occupied with want ing the things of this world, includ ing perhaps its praise. These are not the commodities which bring true contentment and satisfaction. Only the things we receive from Cod will be lasting and devoid of vainglory. As an example, how important to you is the matter of praise? Most people thoroughly enjoy receiving the praise and adulation of others. How do you feel, however, if you are deprived of this because some one spreads rumors about you? This probably would frustrate us if it did not cause extreme anger to come out. Such times could dem onstrate that we are not always in control of ourselves. If you were able to get the victory over this so that you could say, "It makes no difference; to Cod be the glory!," then life could take on new mean ing. This begins to demonstrate the quality of character known as long- suffering or having a "long spirit." Such a disposition is brought about from a life which has experienced altered goals. The normally frustrat ing aspects of life no longer cause the same concern or bother. For you not only have a new founda tion in Christ, you now have the second basic element I feel is im portant in producing longsuffering. In II Timothy 2:3 and 4 we have an excellent picture of how an indi vidual's life can be transformed by focusing on new goals. Paul urges his younger friend in the Lord, "Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth him self with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chos en him to be a soldier." Timothy had become a servant of Jesus Christ, entering the Lord's army. Page 9
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