Holidays

Summer time brings much anticipated vacations. When school is out, both students and parents enjoy going on holiday. We look forward to time away from work and school, and to letting our guard down and having leisure time.

In the Christian's walk though, we don't get a vacation from living out our faith. Scripture speaks of us running a race and we must finish well.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (NASB)

Paul compares the Christian to a soldier in Ephesians 6 and describes the armor he wears. This is armor we do not get to remove on this side of eternity. 

Our walk is further described in Galatians chapter 5.  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (verses 16-24 NASB)

Remember: testimonies take a lifetime to build but can be destroyed in only minutes.