Devotionals

Self Occupied or Christ Occupied

by Michael Edwards 
12/03/15
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Have you ever found yourself falling into the same sin repeatedly? I have. My usual thought was “oh no, I did it again.” This type of self-occupation, instead of Christ occupation, always opens the door for the enemy’s attack leading to guilt, condemnation and more sin.

If you can relate, take a look at our reaction. Do you see any faith in it? Or is our reaction one of the flesh, no faith needed, all visible and all about ourselves? At these times of failure in the flesh, we have a choice to walk in NO faith beholding our sin, or we can walk IN faith beholding His glory.

The Bible teaches that through Jesus perfect obedience, not ours, we are made righteous by God.

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19 ESV

For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Rom 1:17 NASB

Failure is the perfect time to let our faith reveal God’s righteousness, slamming the door on the enemy’s attack. Instead of beholding our sin, we are instructed to behold His glory and be transformed into Christ’s image (2 Cor 3:18); seeing ourselves in Him. Establish this truth in your heart and confess it boldly, especially when you fail.

I Am the Righteousness of God in Christ! HERE & HERE

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18 NASB HERE

Take your eyes off yourself and your sins and keep your eyes fixed on Christ and your righteousness in Him.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2 NAS

Right believing always leads to right living. 

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