A Devotional by Pastor Cesar Castellanos

Today’s Bible Verse

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Genesis 25:23

The Choice Is Ours

Rebekah was able to feel the oppression of two natures fighting in her womb. Even though her children were not even born yet, they were already fighting. She sought God for divine direction when she became very tired and reached the point of wanting to die. And the Lord revealed to her that in this battle, the firstborn would serve the second son. We can see that Jacob, the second born, represents the spiritual man; while Esau, who was born first, represents the fleshly man.

The purpose of God is carried out by people who determine to live a life led by the Spirit. “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:6-8).

The carnal man is someone who wants to do everything on his own without taking God’s opinion into consideration. He would rather live at a distance from God, so his approach to life creates conflict between him and God. The spiritual man is someone who has submitted his life to the Lord; he lives according to God’s Word and longs to do His will. “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:9-10). The spiritual man is characterized by living according to the Spirit, thinking about the things of the Spirit, and believing that he can live every day in success because he is justified by faith.

Something to Think About

For many years, my character was uncontrollable. Due to hard circumstances in my past, I had become a proud and difficult woman. I married the most gentle man and within a short period of time, I had already terrorized the heart of my precious husband. I was fed up of struggling to change in my own strength, I had made the decision to be different over a thousand times, and although “I was a Christian,” none of these decisions ever led to change.

One day, when I was 8 months pregnant, as I left for work my husband promised me that he would return home early to help me with the housework, but it never happened. Furious at his lack of commitment, I started to do all the things that needed doing in the house, including the more risky jobs. I decided that if something bad happened it would be on his conscience. Thank God, nothing happened, but as I carried on in my bitterness and frustration (it was now late, and my husband had still not arrived), there in my apartment, I heard a voice ask me, “Why do you want your husband to come home, to see you like this, as if you were possessed?” The question shocked me, and I fell to my knees among the buckets, brooms and cloths.

That night I cried like never before. The pain was coming from my inmost being, I realized I was grieving the Holy Spirit and embittering my husband’s existence. I no longer wanted to live like that. I asked Jesus to help me, and for the first time, I allowed him to make the changes. While I was praying and crying many tears, the Lord spoke to me through John 15, which says, “apart from me, you can do nothing.” About midnight, I heard the key in the door. It was my husband, terrified. He had been outside since 9pm, waiting until I went to sleep. When he entered and saw that I was not angry at how late he was, the blood returned to his face. I told him how sorry I was and asked him to help me; I told him what God had done during the night and from that moment on, I started to live the life of a true Christian, bearing testimony to the Holy Spirit and living victoriously. (Pastor Betty Rojas)

Prayer

“Dear God, today I decide to take everything to the Cross of Calvary that is a part of my old nature. I accept that with Your death, You overcame everything that afflicted me, oppressed me, and filled me with fear. I believe that You have given me a new nature, and that the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in me. It is because of Him that I can love You, serve You, and walk in obedience to Your Word. Amen.”

Declaration

“I am a new creation, and the Holy Spirit of God lives in me; I obey His Word and enjoy His blessing.”

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 17-19; Psalm 144
• New Testament: Luke 11:29-36; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-7