The old man (the ego) is on his last leg but he will do anything he can to remain hidden in the recesses of your soul. Over the years you have fed him well and he grew stronger everyday. Meanwhile, the Spiritual man was weak and in need of food to be strengthened, wanting to be in command for your good as well as benefiting mankind with your gifts and calling. The ego will manipulate your life, your relationships, and your fruit so that you give in to a path of death and destruction. It’s your decision.
Most people justify their actions by blaming others as though they are the victim of circumstances. Their parents, their spouse, their friends, their siblings, the government, even the Lord God Almighty receive the blame for their current condition. The one thing they all have in common is that they don’t want to change, period! They will manipulate the truth to suit their destructive state. They will look point out flaws in others while their own sins are overlooked. They will manipulate others to feed the old man. It is all about control and the old man does not want to lose ANY control whatsoever.
Revelations 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
We read this Scripture and marvel that the church of the Laodiceans could be so blind yet do we use that subtle form of manipulation to perpetuate our old man? More so that you want to admit. Are you miserable? Change! Are you walking in Love or are you sowing seeds of discord? Change! Are you sucking the life out of the people around you? Change! Is your soul in constant turmoil? Change! Are you exalting yourself above others in a subtle fashion? Change!
The reality is that you are wretched, miserable, poor, and blind but that can change. Self-deception will only perpetuate this state and the ego would like you to stay on this path of destruction. Your ego would like to see your calling die unfulfilled. Will you suffer when you change? You bet. No pain, no gain. Our ego wants to keep us from suffering any pain associated with change and improvement yet it will inflict torment on your soul without a second thought.
Repent! Turn away from that path of destruction. If your actions are hurting people, Stop! Do nothing. Silence yourself. Deny your “self”. The truth is we all need to change and keep changing until we fully take on Our Heavenly Father’s Character of Love. I need to change and that is why I continue to focus on being saturated with the Revelation of Love. THAT is the fruit I want to see. In the 70’s and 80’s I focused on faith and saw the fruit manifest. It was exciting but I still lacked something. I still hurt others while I was walking out being “a man of faith”. I repent Father!
Until people see Jesus Christ in you fully and completely, you have not arrived, neither have I. Quit expecting everyone else to change. Quit manipulating other people to satisfy your old man. Quit justifying “self” but put “self” on the altar. It’s time for the old man to die. Quit resisting the Love walk and let your gifts and calling come to fruition. Only then will you enter in to rest. Father, open our eyes and ears that we may see the need to change! Let us truly represent Your Love on earth!