Obedience, Key to Victory

One of the things that struck me recently was this.

I was defeated many times in my struggle against sin because of this reason. It was because my attitude towards sin was more self-centred than God-centred. I was more concerned about my own "victory" over sin than I was about the fact that my sins were grieving the heart of God. I could not tolerate failure in my struggle with sin because I was success-oriented, not because I knew it was offensive to God. Of course, the more I wanted to be "perfect" and to maintain a perfect record, the more I would fall.

Jerry Bridges wrote: "God wants us to walk in obedience, not in victory. Obedience is oriented towards God; victory is oriented towards self... there is a subtle, self-centred attitude at the root of many of our difficulties with sin. Until we face this attitude and deal with it, we will not consistently walk in holiness."

Since I realised this, the struggle has lessened quite abit. I realised that my sin is not "making me imperfect" but is really hurting God. I realised that I need not so much to live in victory but to live in obedience. I can never earn God's favour, but I need to draw close to Him and obey Him.

I feel more relieved now, thankful that I can be honest with Him about my hopes and fears and my struggles. I'm thankful that I can place it all in His hands and say, "I'm quite hopeless... please do something." Especially about my attitudes.

This I claim as my hope:

"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Let me walk in obedience this New Year...