Fully Equipped

It would be great if after our salvation we always chose to do what is right, what pleases the Lord, wouldn't it?  But we still sin because sin is still resident in the flesh.  I groan with Paul over the battle and also long for that transformation that will end it!  The good news is that though sin is still present, it's power over us has been broken.  In Christ, we are freed from our orientation to sin.  At death or at the return of Christ, we will be freed from sin's presence, but while we live on the earth during this present age, the Lord graciously equips us so that we can choose to live godly in Christ.

Off the top of my head, here is a list of some of those things-

1)  A new mind and heart.

Before Christ, our minds were not spiritually informed.  We could not comprehend spiritual truth and our hearts were made of stone.  We were without understanding concerning the things of God nor did we care for spiritual things.  The unregenerate mind operates in the realm of futility, or emptiness.  (Eph. 4:17)  Our minds were void of spiritual substance.  Part of the new creation is a new mind, Christ's mind. (1 Cor. 2:16)  We do what we do and feel how we feel because of how we think.  At salvation, we go from being in Satan's realm to God's realm.  We now have the ability to think about things that will move us in a direction to succeed according to God's will and plan.  Thinking biblically doesn't come automatically, however.  We have to train our minds to think differently.  It really is a spiritual discipline. 

2) The Word.

It's the Word that God uses to bring about our transformation, our salvation.  It's the Word that the Holy Spirit uses to sanctify us and grow us.  We are instructed to set our minds on things above.  In order to do that, our minds need to be Word saturated.  That's just not happening if it sits on the coffee table, gathering dust. 

3) Spiritual brothers and sisters.

These are those folks in the family of God who are in the Word, who have dealt with the logs in their own eyes so they can come alongside those of us who are straying from God's path, and help us deal with our own splinters and logs! 

4) Pastors and teachers (or pastor/teachers)

God has given the church those who lead and shepherd His flock, who are charged with the care, feeding, and spiritual guidance.  These are the ones who enrich our knowledge of the Word.   

5) Prayer

Paul was constantly in prayer for the recipients of his letters.  In God's marvelơus plan, prayer aligns us up with His power to do His work in our lives and in the lives of others.  In the past year, I've experienced great joy over answered prayer.  We miss out on many blessings when we don't participate in this wonderful spiritual discipline.

Those are just a few of the pieces of equipment that enable us to live Christ-centered lives.  While we are new, we are not yet all new.  I do long for the day when I will be all new, but for now, He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness!