All our actions are generated by our mindset, if by emotions then we are controlled by them. If our actions are dictated by rational Christ-like thinking then we are controlled by Christ.
We are controlled by something, either Christ, our fleshly emotions or by the devil.
Romans 8:8-10 "8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.…"
Anyone who tells you to follow your emotions is speaking from the lies of the devil just as the devil told Eve she should ignore God and eat the fruit because it looked good to eat.
The devil convinced Eve to follow her feelings and fleshly desires instead of God. This mentality thrives in the modern church systems today.
Our feelings lie to us, they say things are good when they are bad and that things are bad when they are good. Satan uses feelings to deceive people every day all day long, to derail the lives of those who have no power over him.
Momentary gratification has ruined more lives than anything else. It is the tactic of the devil to tempt people with momentary feelings and personal indulgence. Anyone who has been born again will tell you all their sin before they were changed by Christ was because of the enticements of the devil to follow their feelings.
Every sin happens because someone "felt" something that made their actions seem happy momentarily.
Luke 8:14
"14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity."
The enticements of the devil are the thorns disguised as pleasure, they appear happy and good until the consequences come to bear later.
Matthew 13:22
"The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
This deceitful fruit is worse than unfruitful, it creates a life of dependence on temporary pleasure while bringing unpleasant consequences that are last for a lifetime.
God's love and grace in the born-again believer brings great joy for not only a lifetime as they navigate through trials and lessons in life with Christ Who sustains them but also for eternity when they finally go to their eternal home.
When Christ is our focus not too much on this earth affects us in a way that is ruinous to us as many things are for those who have not trusted Christ.
If only we could explain these things to unbelievers so they will see what we see, but we only share the gospel with them and they have to choose Christ for their eyes to be opened.
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
The natural man without Christ will only begin to understand these things when they have chosen to trust in Christ and He changes them into a new creation.
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