Greatest Battle Ever Fought
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:26
The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: "Dead in trespass and sins;" "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;" "no soundness in it." We are held fast in the snare of Satan, "taken captive by him at his will" (Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26). God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a removing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness....
God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind and character; it would make man a mere automaton. Such is not the purpose of the Creator. (Steps to Christ, 43)
Reflection: It takes a love, which we as sinful human beings don't have or get on our own, a heaven-born love that only wants voluntary submission, not forced, to serve a God like that. This is what the Christian life is all about. Let's serve Him better today than ever.
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:26
The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: "Dead in trespass and sins;" "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;" "no soundness in it." We are held fast in the snare of Satan, "taken captive by him at his will" (Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26). God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a removing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him.
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness....
God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind and character; it would make man a mere automaton. Such is not the purpose of the Creator. (Steps to Christ, 43)
Reflection: It takes a love, which we as sinful human beings don't have or get on our own, a heaven-born love that only wants voluntary submission, not forced, to serve a God like that. This is what the Christian life is all about. Let's serve Him better today than ever.
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