The Disciple
the Lower Nature
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Sin
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which of us takes our struggle with sin so seriously Heb. 5:7
Mt. 16:24
that we fight with loud cries and tears? Jesus did. No one has ever fought like Jesus – no one. The devil wanted no heart more than his. And because he fought much harder than any one of us will ever have to fight, he understands our struggles. Of that we can be sure. But we do have to fight. Jesus says that those who want to follow him must take up their cross as he took up his. I want to challenge everyone to fight as Jesus fought – to fight until death.
paul the Apostle spoke of himself as the greatest
Acts 2:37
sinner. These were not just pious words; he really meant them. He had persecuted the early church and was responsible for many martyrs’ deaths, and he knew he was an enemy of God. At Pentecost the people in Jerusalem also saw them selves as sinners – they did not feel they were good. They were “cut to the heart,” and when the Holy Spirit came to them, they did not feel worthy of it. In fact, they saw themselves as the murderers of Christ. But because of this recognition, God could use them. If we want to be used by God, we must not talk and preach to one another about love without recognizing that each one of us, too, is actually a sinner.
Sin is not only a matter of our lower nature. We all have to fight our lower nature, but some people