Scripture is filled with admonitions on living in a way that honors God rather than following our carnal instincts:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
In fact, this theme is so replete throughout scripture that no Christian could claim he or she was unaware of the importance that God attaches to living according to His laws rather than following the ways of the world. One way to think of how we can put our desire to please God as a way of living is to make choices every day as though they might be the last thing we do.
For lack of a better term, I am going to call this a “call to intentional living,” meaning I do not react to a situation by letting my human nature take over, but rather I intentionally let the Spirit take over my decision making. This can happen only if I submit my will to be under God’s control instead of my own.
In John 15 Christ refers to the indwelling of the Spirit as “abiding” in us and we in Christ, as a branch ‘remains” in a vine. The monumental struggle we can only be resolved in the favor of God by our asking and receiving the Spirit in us each day. Which is why I include this “intentional living” on the brief list of things I have found I must do to “Live Today as Though I Might Die Tomorrow.”
