God does not force His redeemed children to walk with Him; the choice is left to us. He tells us what the consequences will be if we live for His glory, and what they will be if we do not. He tells us plainly that “we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live,” and, on the other hand, He tells us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” We may “fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth,” remembering His words that “if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor,” and also remembering that “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” So, “as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” |