THE POWER OF SELFLESSNESS: A LESSON FROM RUTH - PART 4: THE FREEDOM TO DO GOOD All sin and rebellion against God starts in the flesh. Flesh, as opposed to Spirit, is the organ of sin in man. We cannot sin in the Spirit, but whenever we sin, we are in the flesh. Thats why God commands us to crucify the flesh. Crucifying the flesh requires, among other things, rising above self and no longer being bound by it. FLESH is SELF sitting on the throne of our hearts, which should be reserved for Christ alone. Selfishness is a spiritual prison that prevents us from truly loving anyone beside ourselves, and that includes our fellow man as well as our exalted Maker. But selflessnes frees us to seek and to serve God. Selflessness enabled Ruth not only to find relief for Naomis plight, but it also allowed her to seek and find the God of Israel. The same cannot be said of Orpah, Naomis other daughter-in-law. Ruth became a believer (an Israelitess) and an ancestress of Christ by the power of faith and selflessness. Selfish people can neither serve nor please God. In Haggais days, the Israelites were so selfish they ignored the unfinished Temple but kept building fine houses for themselves. In Malachis time they were too selfish to pay all their tithes and offerings. Selfishness is a form of spiritual bondage. Selflessness is proof that we have been delivered from selfishness, and set free to receive and reflect the nature of Christ.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 18:40:15 +0000
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