Belief in Christ is the only tool which can put to death the temptations of the flesh.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   1 Peter 5:2-3 is the warning to me—“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you…not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock…humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he might exalt you…” Colossians 3:19 is the warning to husbands—“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” And then in Ephesians it says to husbands to sacrifice on behalf of your wife, as Christ loved and sacrificed himself for the church. Don’t minimize your wife, and her role, her thoughts, her emotions, her life. Don’t disregard her. Parents, do not provoke your children to anger. Do not exasperate them by dominating them. Bosses, stop threatening your workers, knowing that he who is in heaven is both their master and yours, and that there is no partiality with him. There are some here who are drunk on power you think is yours. You will not hear my words. You will not relinquish your hold on your sin. But there are others of you, who are in the midst of this scenario, upon whom the Holy Spirit has been tenderizing your heart. You know it’s wrong, sinful. You know you are hurting those around you. You know you think your power is a cloak that can cover up your hurtful ways. But the LORD has been dealing with you. He has been merciful and gracious to do so. We all have hearts bent towards lording it over people when we can. It’s a glitch in our system due to the fall of man into sin. Eve wanted as much power as God. Adam wanted as much power as God, and now we crave it too. But how do we change? We can’t just stop it. The virus runs to the core of who we are. Jesus came to not only serve, but to give His life as a ransom, as a payment, for many people. And as we watch the gospel unfold, we learn that Jesus not only trades His life for ours, takes our sin and give us His righteousness, but part of the payment is that the Holy Spirit comes to live among His people, in His people. And this tendency to exert power and authority unjustly is that old flesh trying to raise its head again in your life. And you have to put him down. How? What is the death dagger? It is belief. Believing that Christ reigns over the flesh, has put the old man to death through Jesus’ resurrection. I have to believe that, and turn my eyes to Christ, bow the knee and walk according to His word. Jesus said he came to give his life as a ransom for many? But who are those people? Those people are the ones who recognize the virus of sin in their lives, and the destruction it causes, and run to Christ! Are you that person this morning? Is that you, who is just now realizing the danger of your own sin and that it displeases, angers the God of all creation, from whom you cannot hide, and who will not be minimized in one aspect of His being? Then run to the cross! See Christ crucified for you, to be your ransom payment for your sin and death. Cling to Him with every fiber of your being and every part of your heart! There is no other gift or offering or sacrifice made that will atone for your sin than Christ!