“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1st Cor. 6:12)
I hope you understand that verse, because within it and others similar to it, is the key to the battle of the flesh, the continuous victory over our old nature. How to die to self.
You can do anything that you want to do, you have, and still retain, even after you have been hid in Christ, complete and total free will over your life, you are hindered only by what are called the natural, physical laws set upon the creation of the Almighty. Anything that you want to do within those boundaries you are free to do. And you must understand this truth as well, the consequences of your actions are either detrimental or beneficial in accordance to your thoughts of them.
Knowing full well and being prepared to accept those consequences is the foundation of our free will.
I know that I bring this verse up quite often, but it fits perfectly in with the subject matter here.
“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4)
Look closely at what is said, “all that a man hath will he give.” Giving can only be done by our own conscience decision; it is and always will be a free will choice.
With everything being lawful for us, we are the ones that must decide what is profitable and what is not, and for us who have been born again only those deeds, words and actions that we perform intentionally, by a decision of our own free will that bring glory to the Living God are profitable. And that must always be more than what we have been commanded to do.
Look at this verse and ask yourself if you see it as a commandment.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
That word “if” is indicative of a free will choice, without external influences, without the fear of any consequences, it leaves the doing of it solely and completely up to the hearer of those words. Obeying my friends is entirely left up to us, and Luke 17:10 denotes without question that it is more than just obeying what we have been commanded to do.
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
Not all of those things that we do are profitable, either for us or for the glory of our Father in heaven, but they are lawful, we can do them if we choose to. Here is where the mind that serves the law of sin, our old nature, knows full well that truth, that all things are lawful for us to do.
I did not say for “it” to do, it is you.
There is no power within ourselves to do those things which are profitable, unless and until we understand the truth of Philippians 4:13.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
The Holy Spirit will guide us, will lead you, prompt you, put thoughts into your mind, however you care to phrase it, but you are the responsible party, you still retain your free will, and will retain it throughout all eternity.
We are, my friends, willing slaves.
So then, the question must be this, how do we become profitable? There is only one answer. Do more than you have been commanded to do. Pray, seek His face, step out in faith, use some initiative, be inventive. Take a chance. There are very few things, I believe that the Lord loves more than to see His chosen ones stepping out in faith solely for His glory.
All things are lawful for you, learn to discern what is profitable and what is not.
