Black, white & red.

Last week we talked about how the blood of Jesus washes us white as snow. This is why we can draw closer to God, because we have been made clean by His blood that was shed for us.

See at salvation, at the point in time when we ask Jesus into our hearts, we are made clean by the blood of Jesus. So if that is true why do we feel distant from God sometimes? A couple of things, main one being sin and sometimes it is because we believe the lies of the enemy.

So starting with sin, Romans 6:1-2 says “So what do we do, then? Do we persist in sin so that God’s kindness and grace will increase? What a terrible thought! We have died to sin once and for all, as a dead man passes away from this life. So how could we live under sin’s rule a moment longer?”

Last week we talked about how sin brings distance between us and God. If we are forgiven and Jesus died for us on the cross, why does sin still create distance between us and God? Sin creates distance and separation because Jesus has given us power over sin not so we can keep it as a trophy in our Bibles tucked away in a drawer or in a box somewhere in our house; but so we can use that power to resist the devil so we can in turn draw closer to God, James 4:7-8.

Romans 6:9-11 says, “And we know that since the Anointed One has been raised from the dead to die no more, his resurrection life has vanquished death and its power over him is finished. For by his sacrifice he died to sin’s power once and for all, but he now lives continuously for the Father’s pleasure. So let it be the same way with you! Since you are now joined with him, you must continually view yourselves as dead and unresponsive to sin’s appeal while living daily for God’s pleasure in union with Jesus, the Anointed One.”

That is what we are called to do. On our own this is impossible to do but with God nothing is impossible, Luke 1:37. I have had some things I thought I could not break out of but when God said, “Let her go”, those things could not hold onto me any longer and I, from that moment, had to make a choice to live as a free person. It is easy to go back to what is familiar, but God wants to set a new standard for us. A new norm. One which is full of life, hope, peace and joy not the death, shame, desperation, loneliness, bitterness, anger whatever it may have been, that we once knew.

The reality is we are positionally holy and set free from sin, Acts 13:39. That will never change. The Bible also says we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6. That does not mean we stop paying our bills or start living above our means because we are royalty. The same applies with sin. We have been made holy but how much of God we have in our lives is dependent on the choices we make in life. As humans, we all still sin, 1 John 1:10 but we can choose to put up a fight against sin, resist the devil and he will flee, James 4:7. Meaning if you do not resist, he comes to stay and he brings baggage, and you don’t want that.

Jesus has done His part to allow us to have a relationship with God. It’s time for us to do our part. This is not an invitation to live sin conscious and scared you are going to make mistakes. You are going to make mistakes and sin, trust me, I know! But, you can always come running back to Papa God and say, “Lord, I messed up. Will You forgive me?” The answer is always and emphatically, “Yes!”

Drawing closer to God is not so much about becoming more aware of ourselves. It is about become more aware of God. Becoming more tuned in to His voice. When He says, let’s do this or how about you don’t say that. Obeying the word of God and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit, that is what brings us into closeness with God. That is what brings us into this space where we find out just who our God is and how much we are loved and valued by Him.

So from today on, let us make the choice to tune into God’s voice. To press into His Presence and hear what He has to say. Let’s make time to read His word, because He is the word. If we want to know Him, He has poured Himself out in black, white and red in the pages of our Bible. Let’s draw closer to God, not just with our words, but with our actions.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.