It is not all God's responsibility to rid the world of sin.  It is ours too!

What a unique concept!  Somewhere Christians got the idea that it's only God's job.  I mean, didn't He send His Son into the world to save the world?  We seem to have taken that promise and interpreted it to mean that He does the work, and we just get to sit back and watch.  And then when it's all said and done, we'll reap the benefits!  (Anyone read the children's book about the Little Red Hen?)

I could go on and on about how it's time for the Church to get off of their excuses and get to work.  But it's much more personal than that.  It's time for ME to get off MY excuses and get to work!  There's a saying that went around business world a while back.  It said, "If it's to be, it up to me."  The philosophy behind the motto is that if something needs to be done, you don't assume it's someone else's job.  You do it yourself.  That is what God is saying in this matter.  If it's to be, it IS up to me.

I am the Church - Christ's bride.  I need to walk in the authority that God has given me, stand firm and say, "No!  Enough is enough.  I will not put up with this any longer.  The Word says that sin no longer has dominion over me.  The Word says that I am an over-comer and that He who is in me is stronger than he who is in the world.  The Word says...

The Bible tells us that Jesus desires to "present His bride (me) to Himself, in all my glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that I should be holy and blameless."  (Ephesians 5:27)

Now, don't get embarrassed, but how does a bride stay spotless for her bridegroom?  Well, before the marriage, she says "No!"  She stays a virgin, so she will be pure for her husband.  And after the wedding, if anyone attempts to seduce her away from him, she still says "No!"  It is her responsibility - no one else can say it for her.

This is what Jesus wants me to do: say "No!" to Satan, to my flesh, to anything that would make me unclean for Him.  I have the authority through His Word to be the bride He desires.  I have the responsibility to be the bride He desires.

"Dear God, help me realize that it is my responsibility to stand pure before Your Son.  Help me to come to the revelation that it not an impossible task.  Help me to use the tools of Your Word to accomplish the task that is set before me.  Help me to stand firm and say "No!" to anything that would come between me, the Bride, and the Groom.  In Jesus' name, Amen!