We must continue to realize that sanctification is not a destination. It is not something we can achieve.  We have been chosen and adopted into the family of God. We are destined for heaven. But then why are times so tough? Why are disappointed and struggle with people and situations?

How come we continue to see areas of our life that need to change? Some think it is a compulsive behavior and that we should just relax and chill out.  How sad that would be if we got given the ability to receive the rule of the house but seclude ourselves in a closet or roll up in a ball in the corner.  We know from John 10:10 that Jesus came to bring us life. Not just plain, hum-drum life, but life to the full.

I will give you a hint. No matter what you are doing, not matter how far you have come. Regardless of what you have given up and even how much you have been blessed by God, you are not a finished product.  If you are breathing you are in transition. Whether you want to admit it or not, you still have things that can be transformed to be more like the life of Jesus.  As Paul points out in Romans chapter 12.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2

The struggle that I continue to battle is the opposition of change. My flesh does not want to change. I have lived for over 50 years and my flesh has worked hard to get to a point where I can control and manage things in my life.  But when I engage with God in changing me, then it is really surrendering my will.  Even when I know that I need to change, even though I want to change, it is like a car with the alignment out of whack. I have to continue to pay attention and really work to get it to go in the right direction.

As Tony Evans explained to us during the Kingdom Man series, we can continue to buy new tires and put them on that car with a bad alignment and our tires quickly wear out and we did not really address the issue when we bought new tires. It is not until we get to the root of the problem of the bad alignment, and we continue the cycle of buying new tires then a short time later we right back in the same situation we just tried to escape. Sound familiar?  Paul shared in Romans chapter 7 his own struggles.

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. – Romans 7:15-16

Let us come together through this study of Recovering Redemption to learn how to surrender to the higher power and let Him has his way with us. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.