This is what grabbed me today from Jerry Bridges,
The Pursuit of Holiness:
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for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)
"God's provision for [holiness] consists in delivering us from the reign of sin, uniting us with Christ, and giving us the indwelling Holy Spirit to reveal sin, to create a desire for holiness, and to strengthen us in our pursuit of holiness . . . . He makes provision for our holiness, but He given us the responsibility of using those provisions."
"The Christian should never complain of want of ability and power. If we sin, it is because we choose to sin, not because we lack the ability to say no to temptation. It is time for us Christians to face up to our responsibility for holiness. Too often we say we are 'defeated' bu this or that sin. No, we are not defeated; we are simply disobedient! It might be well if we stopped using the terms, 'victory' and 'defeat' to describe our progress in holiness. Rather, we should use the terms 'obedience' and 'disobedience.' When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibilty. I am saying that something outside of me has defeated me. but when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me."
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Martin Luther said that a man's beard is like original sin: "although we daily destroy its manifestations, it constantly reappears."
So: Shave, shave, shave.
