Thursday 3-6-08 "Movement"

Greetings Internet Campus,

Today we're going to look at the fifth element of our ethos, movement. The question this morning is "What direction am I going?"

Good question.

Romans 7:21 "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin"

This passage talks a lot about direction. Paul says that every time he tries to move in toward God, his flesh pulls him back. He doesn't want to sin...but he does. He wants to be more like Christ...but is dominated by sin and death! Sound familiar?

What direction are you going? I strongly believe that every decision, every relationship, every word we speak, every reaction...everything...leads us either closer to Christ or farther away.
We all want to live lives that honor God...yet the gravitational pull of the flesh keeps dragging us downward.

Here's the question...is your flesh keeping you from your potential? If you aren't making an effort to move in God's direction...than yes. We've got to try to break the pull of the flesh toward sin. I know...easier said than done. However, if you are a Christ-follower, God will always give you a way to avoid the sin that is holding you down. You know what I'm talking about..... right before you make the wrong decision, you get amazing clarity telling you that you shouldn't. If we are going to move forward...in the right direction...we've got to listen to that voice and overcome the pull.

If you are a Christian, movement is one of the most important values to work on. Our very purpose is to become more Christ-like...to move toward God's purpose for our lives. The pull of sin is strong....but our desire to move in God's direction needs to be stronger.

Write it Down: Think about your last 2 decisions...did they lead you closer to Christ? Today in your journal write a prayer to God asking Him to help you move closer toward Him.

See you tomorrow as we wrap up our Ethos study with the last one: Potential

Pastor Brian