You Are Restrained in Your Own Affections

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You Are Restrained in Your Own Affections

The apostle Paul dearly loved  the people at Corinth,  and the Corinthians loved Paul.     They liked the gospel  he preached to them.     It was the good news  they really needed  in their messed-up lives.     They had been accustomed  to the debauchery  of the Roman life style — wild partying,  gorging on foods and wine,  having little regard  for another’s life,  all sorts  of sexual sins,  dishonest dealings,  greeds,  and corruptions  of all sorts.     In so many ways,  it was a relief  to know  they had forgiveness  in Jesus Christ  and would be able  to enter heaven  through faith  in Jesus alone.     The cleanness  of a godly life  gave them  a wonderful  new freedom.

But  still,  they sometimes experienced  a hard time  changing over  to their new life  in Christ.     There were times  they just  “wanted”  to go back  to their old,  sinful ways.     At times,  it seemed easier  to “let go”  and forget about Jesus’ sacrifice,  the ways  of God Almighty,  heaven,  hell,  and all the things they had learned  regarding the gospel.     Maybe their thoughts included some things like,  “You only go around once  in life,”  “I’m only human,”  “Everybody deserves some fun,” or even,  “Everybody else is doing it.”

They were allowing  their sinful natures  to take over their lives.     They knew it  deep down  in their hearts,  but wanted to forget  about  the seriousness  of their downfall — at least for awhile.     In love,  Paul was rightfully  very concerned  for their salvation,  and wrote to them  in 2 Corinthians 6:12,

You are not restrained  by us,  but you are restrained  in your own affections.

In other words,  all of Paul’s instructions  on how to live a godly life  was not really putting a damper  on how they decided  to live.     God and salvation  through Jesus Christ  were not tying them down  in any way.     Truth be said,  they were tied down to their own sinful inclinations.     They were caving in  to remaining slaves  to sin.    So, Paul wrote,  “You are restrained  in your own affections.”

Don’t blame the so-called  “strictness”  of God Almighty  for tying anyone down  to a life of misery.     There is actually  true freedom and delight  in the ways of God.     Instead,  it is our own sinful natures  that gripe and complain  that we aren’t having enough  “fun”  in life.     Our sinful natures  accuse us  of not taking full advantage  of all the  “fun”  things  going on around us.     In all that,  our sinful natures purposely blind us  to the consequences  of our sins.     We know the consequences,  but deliberately  turn a blind eye  to our dilemma.

In our daily living,  we all need  to think  about what really  restrains us  in this life.     Is it honestly the gospel  that restrains us?     We need  to truthfully admit  how our  “own affections” are restraining us  into a life of sin.     Then we need  to ask our Lord and Savior  for the help we need  in staying free  from our sinful natures.     Only He can help — and He  truly wants  to help.     That is why He suffered and died  to pay for our sins.     Let us not let His grace  be wasted  on us.     Accept His loving help and guidance,  so that we may be free  to live forever  in glory.

Then,  in the freedom  of God’s ways,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord Jesus,  it is only as You live  in me  and I come to live  in You  that there is true freedom.     Thank You  for loving me so dearly  and coming  to free me.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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