We ARE the murderer - the thief - the adulterer - whoever we feel is the least of the least. We are one with humanity and have the same spirit in us. For instance, as Jesus pointed out, you might not kill, but you hate. We all have the spirit of self-gratification, yet one person is an adulterer, another molests his child, and another just over-eats. All these things we hold in common, but the acting out takes different forms.
But as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit - His Spirit always struggling with ours so that we may not do those things which is in our nature to do. Who is always keeping our eyes on Jesus so that we will begin to take on His characteristics and feel His love. Who is filling us with His fruits, and overpowering many of our desires. All to do the work of conforming us to the image of Christ so that He can be more fully expressed through us.
Accepting our free gift of eternal salvation through His grace was easy. Now comes the struggle of this work of molding us as we cooperate through our choices, our focus, and our surrender.
Day by day. Not always easy.
But as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit - His Spirit always struggling with ours so that we may not do those things which is in our nature to do. Who is always keeping our eyes on Jesus so that we will begin to take on His characteristics and feel His love. Who is filling us with His fruits, and overpowering many of our desires. All to do the work of conforming us to the image of Christ so that He can be more fully expressed through us.
Accepting our free gift of eternal salvation through His grace was easy. Now comes the struggle of this work of molding us as we cooperate through our choices, our focus, and our surrender.
Day by day. Not always easy.