Removal or Victory?
By Mike Rule

I am dead to the power of sin eternally, but not to the influence of sin on my mind, will, emotions, and body. The death of that influence only comes through a moment by moment recognition of my desperate need for Christ. I need the influence and ruling power of Christ on my mind, will, emotions and body, moment by moment to save me from my daily hell. This is where many people miss the true freedom God offers us. We expect God to remove our weaknesses. When He does not, we fall into all kinds of self-hatred, depression, anger, or whatever idol we may be vulnerable to. God promises us that His power is made perfect in our weaknesses, but He does not promise to remove them.

Removal and victory are two different things. I know that if my weaknesses were removed I would easily lose sight of my moment by moment need for Christ. Am I a slave to those things? No, it is not a struggle to avoid them - but I know that all I have ever been is who I am in my flesh and the only one able to "keep" me is Christ in me.

Because of KNOWING Him and the influence He has in me, I have a much STRONGER and more PASSIONATE desire for something else. The desires of the flesh do not appeal. I praise God that He has made us weak so that we may receive the revelation of our desperate need for Him moment by moment!