Pr. 24:1: “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them”
Ro. 13:11-14 encourages us to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. It says, “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Why? Because the day is at hand. Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Make no provision for the flesh: making provision for something means that you gather necessary supplies, plan and prepare, set the stage. We are not to do those things for the lusts of our flesh. We are to cast off the works of darkness, getting rid of the provisions and plans for our lusts.
Some associations in our lives make it difficult to walk as in the day. Choosing not to walk in revelry, drunkenness, and lewdness usually involves ending some relationships. Making no provisions will mean that certain actions will have to be changed. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ will mean that new choices will need to be made.
Change is never easy, but with the day of our salvation nearer than ever before, it is necessary. Anticipating the day when God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, take away sorrow, death, crying, and pain, we must not give up or continue to willingly give in. On that day, former things will pass away, and The Word tells us that, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall by My son.” (Rev. 21:7)
Since the former things are going to pass away anyway, they are not worth hanging on to. Rev. 12:11 tells us not to “love our lives to the death.” Choosing the idols of our flesh over God reveals what we love most, and will only lead to our death. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. It is our relationship with Jesus that bring salvation.
Making provision to put on the Lord Jesus Christ every day will allow Him to bring to us His great reward. Choosing Him gives us rights to the tree of life and access to the gates of the city of heaven. Confessing, by our choices, that He alone is our God allows us to hear Him say, “Come!” on that great day.
Let’s allow God to help us get rid of the provisions we’ve placed in our lives that help us feed the lusts of our flesh, and to give us a new testimony that includes the healing blood of the Lamb. Together, we will worship, knowing that He is coming quickly…for us.
Here is a song to help set the stage for those changes. I pray God will speak to, strengthen, and cleanse us all today.
Desiring what will last,
jamie
considering the word 