We Respond To Life With The Nature That Rules Our Hearts

How do you approach life?  I mean .. as you live your life each day, from one event to another .. from one breath to another breath … what is it that determines how you respond to those happenings in your life?  In terms of what you think .. what you do .. what you say .. how you respond to others.  As Christians we have a choice, actually.  Because this new life we live, we live in the flesh or in the natural by faith in the spiritual. We can choose to respond in the natural or in the supernatural.  We can respond as the world does, or we can respond like Jesus did.  How you respond is determined by the  true disposition of your heart.  If you see your new life as a Christians as merely an attribute, like being a citizen of the United States or having red hair, then you are in trouble spiritually.  You can hope to respond to life differently, but it is not going to happen.  A common danger for Christians it that we confuse spiritual response with our natural constraint.  Let me explain by example.

Mary is talking to you when she says something that is very offensive. How do you respond?  Naturally, you may be thinking an unkind thought, but you restrain yourself so as not to give how you really feel away.  You are personally offended.  Responding spiritually, you would not be affected by the words, but would see Mary’s heart, the source of what comes out of her mouth, and pray for her. 

“For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  – Luke 6:44-45

You would hold no grudge against her, but would forgive her for the offense.  You would  show compassion for Mary.  Like Jesus did for those who crucified Him.  The offense will not be logged away in your heart to be pulled up at some time in the future.  Let’s say your children are like whirlwinds in your house.  They won’t listen so you yell at them.  You just can’t take it anymore.  You can’t help yourself.  You are right … your old nature is stronger than your will to not yell at your children … but your old nature is not stronger than your new nature, whose source is the Creator God.  You will respond to life from your true nature .. which nature is that?  It is the one that rules your heart.  Not the one that you want to rule, but the one that sits on the throne.  Living supernaturally does not just happen, it is a deliberate process, yielding your life to God each day, living by faith, meditating on the Word (when was the last time you read the Bible on your own?)  You are a child of God, don’t be satisfied with anything less.