SPIRITUAL TRAINING

In the past months, God has been pressing upon my soul the reality of spiritual training. Even after regeneration and years of walking with God, we are still highly vulnerable to both sin and deception primarily because our new natures are housed in a body of unredeemed flesh. Secondly, it is because our senses, natural reactions and even the deepest expressions of our hearts are so trained in sin, deeply corrupted by our old sinful selves.

It is true that there is great magnificent power in regeneration. A regenerate man is a new creation. He is eternally changed possessing the same Holy Spirit that hovered across the waters in the beginning and the same incorruptible nature of Christ. But he still has to undergo a lot of "unlearning" in his life. He has to discipline his body to make it a slave to his new nature. He has to renew his mind constantly so as not to believe the deception that "there's not much difference in being a Christian" or "being like Christ is just a dream". He has to abstain from the things of this world and refrain from learning from the ruler of this fallen world. Ultimately, he has to learn more about God through His Word, seek Him constantly in prayer and have fellowship with his fellow believers so as to have every aspect of his new life influenced, sustained and completed by God, Himself. Obedience then comes as a by product of sanctification.

All the efforts of God are directed into a single act: to conform His children to the image of His Son so that Jesus Christ, as said in the Epistles, would be the first born among many. And as God conforms you to His image, subdues you by His will and guards you zealously from the devil, you will find yourself cleansed from your ancient idols and He glorified in the highest place. As He works in your life, God is glorified by all creation for taking such a puny, wicked object and transforming it to a saintly, godly being. And you in turn also glorify Him with your testifying life and ultimately, find yourself glorified through Him and by Him who has worked in you. All these are results of His great power, infallible character, divine love, sovereign mercy and perfect holiness. What an impossible God! Truly He deserves all praise!

Believe not a lie, discipline thy body and be conformed to His image, always seeking to be governed by His will throughout your entire existence.