Do I have to tell myself to eat food, no that comes naturally without too much thinking, it is natural and normal. That's how it is for the believer, they don't have to think about not stealing, they just hate the act of stealing, don't want any part of it. It comes naturally for the believer to not steal. In fact if they accidently picked up something in a store, forgot they had it and walked out, they panic to get back to the store and return it. The idea of taking things that don't belong to them, no matter how small is unthinkable.
When we have trusted Christ He places His commandments in our heart, we love them. However they are irritating to those who are unsaved who come in contact with a believer.
The Spirit within us is aggravating to the spirit within an unsaved person. They think they don't like us, so they conjure up reasons we must be doing something bad or wrong. They think we are causing them to dislike us, but in reality it is Christ Whom they are drastically uncomfortable with.
I have been accused of being a "goody two shoes", not sure what that means, but it was used many years ago to describe someone who didn't break the rules, who enjoyed obeying authority. When there is a slight of disobedience, there is deep conviction, no matter how small the infraction is, because of that intense sense of displeasing God.
Before I was born again I obeyed authority to keep out of trouble. After becoming born again I wasn't concerned about keeping out of trouble, but rather that God would be unhappy with me.
I liken it to the way a dog reacts to his master. If the master shows any anger at the dog the dog cowers in sadness, licks the masters hand and rolls over on his back as a sign of submission to gain back the approval of the master.
Believers are like that dog, they just hate displeasing God, it also transfers to our attitude toward others. We hate to be mean, it displeases God to be unkind and we can't stand to hurt anyone even the animals. Empathy is a huge part of the existence of a believer.
I have been accused of being a "goody two shoes", not sure what that means, but it was used many years ago to describe someone who didn't break the rules, who enjoyed obeying authority. When there is a slight of disobedience, there is deep conviction, no matter how small the infraction is, because of that intense sense of displeasing God.
Before I was born again I obeyed authority to keep out of trouble. After becoming born again I wasn't concerned about keeping out of trouble, but rather that God would be unhappy with me.
I liken it to the way a dog reacts to his master. If the master shows any anger at the dog the dog cowers in sadness, licks the masters hand and rolls over on his back as a sign of submission to gain back the approval of the master.
Believers are like that dog, they just hate displeasing God, it also transfers to our attitude toward others. We hate to be mean, it displeases God to be unkind and we can't stand to hurt anyone even the animals. Empathy is a huge part of the existence of a believer.
When there is no empathy, little kindness and much covert meanness, I have to wonder if the person who does this is even saved.
God works His principles into our hearts, even before we know all the principles we are compelled to follow them. God also places a yearning in the hearts of those who have become born again, a yearning for His Word.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.…"
God works His principles into our hearts, even before we know all the principles we are compelled to follow them. God also places a yearning in the hearts of those who have become born again, a yearning for His Word.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.…"
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