In every new day, potential glory or shame awaits the believer.
The truth is:
While the potential to sin still exists with those who are saved, the potential NOT to sin is also there.
Remember:
Before you were in Christ, you wouldn’t say “NO” to whatever you wanted to do as long as you COULD do it (and felt you could get away with it.)
“… Thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.” (Jeremiah 3:5)
This “free” life inevitably led to shame in your life, before both God and man.
“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” (Romans 6:20,21)
But something wonderful happened when you got saved:
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
Now that you have been “made free from the law of sin,” you are at liberty to say “NO” to anything the Holy Spirit instructs you to deny (i.e., say no to).
This is your RESPONSIBILITY (or response to the new ability He has given you in Christ.)
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
To be in Christ is to be “under grace” where sin does not have dominion over you, and the grace of God teaches you to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11,12)
In this present world, opportunities, offers and occasions to sin will continue to present themselves to you.
Remember though:
While God has not take away your potential to sin; He has given you the potential not to sin.
You now have a new and TRUE freedom that you didn’t have before.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Because you are in Christ, rejoice that you are no longer under the old authority of sin.
Because you are in Christ, rejoice that your new calling is to be a person under the authority of God.
Remind yourself:
I don’t have to DO SOMETHING, just because I can.
I don’t have to GET SOMETHING just because I can.
I don’t have to KNOW SOMETHING just because I can.
I don’t have to SAY SOMETHING just because I can.
Be OBEDIENT to God because you LOVE the Father, APPRECIATE the work of the Son, and HEAR the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Refuse to do those things you indeed have the POWER to do, but don’t have the PERMISSION to do, knowing the POTENTIAL now exisits for you to say NO.
And think ahead:
Glory, and not shame, will greet you at the end of each day filled with such blessed “no’s.”
“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.” (Psalm 149:5)