Notes of Faith November 21, 2024
The Crisco Cops
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Psalm 37:24
When the Philadelphia Eagles returned home for an heroic parade after winning the NFC Championship, city officials sent workers out with cans of Crisco. The “Crisco Cops,” as they were called, greased all the light poles on the parade route to keep rowdy fans from climbing them.
Recommended Reading:
Romans 7:21 – 8:2
Sometimes trying to live a godly life feels like trying to climb a greased pole. Sin is slippery, and the gravity of our fallen nature works against us. The apostle Paul gave his own testimony about this in Romans 7, saying, “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me” (verse 21, NIV).
When we fall into sin, we must confess it to God honestly. But we must also resolve to do better with His help. He knows how to take His hand and uphold us, pressing us upward and onward in the glorious growth of godliness. Proverbs 24:16 says that a righteous person may fall seven times but will rise again. Psalm 37:24 is similar: “If they fall, they will not stay down, because the Lord will help them up” (GNT).
Don’t give up on personal holiness!
It is inconceivable that the Christian should ever think of sin without also thinking of his Savior.
John Stott
Our battle with sin is ever present in this life, but praise God, His Son won the victory over sin and death that we too, might follow in victory through faith in Him!
21 I find then the principle that in me evil is present—in me who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
We can and should strive toward more holy living, though sin is present within us, so is the Holy Spirit! We have God living inside of us. Let us seek to do the will of God and not the will of the evil nature of sin. May God give you abundant grace to fight the battle within today and every day. Put on the full armor of God!
Pastor Dale