What kind of foods do you like? And how do you like those foods prepared? Each person’s view on the “perfect meal” will certainly vary greatly, depending on their own personal preferences. Growing up early in life, I, like many other kids I knew, did not want to have the crust left on when I had a sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, tuna fish– the sandwich did not matter, the crust had to be off. Something about it I just did not like and wanted it gone.
Today one of my food preferences is that whenever I have some kind of meat like pork chops or beef roast I will not eat the fat. I just won’t do it. I know that it does not bother some people, but personally I need to remove the excess fat from the meat in my meal and give it to the dog. It just kind of grosses me out.
And it’s not just things like eating habits or preferences that people will change or alter. Artists change what they are working on all the time. They may start painting a picture a certain way, but part of the way through it they decide that they don’t like the way it was turning out, so they take it in a completely different direction. The tree that was originally in a certain spot on the canvas they change into a group of boulders, or other things. They cut out and change the things which they don’t like and don’t want.
As Christians we must cut out certain things that are undesirable in the life of a follower of Christ. Whatever things that are not holy and of the Holy Spirit must be cut, trimmed, and thrown away. That is repentance, the feeling of sorrow for the sins you’ve committed, which leads to the turning away from your sins and a new life.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It is through the love of our Lord Jesus that we even have forgiveness available in the first place, and to receive that love upon us we must turn away from our sins. We must “trim the fat” and rid ourselves of the undesirable areas of our lives. Those who have stolen, should steal no more. Those who lie need to speak the truth. Those filled with hate need to learn to love. Whatever sins we may have issues with we must repent of and do what is right.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
When we confess our sins before the Lord and turn from them we may have peace in the knowledge that He will bestow forgiveness upon us and give us His grace to do what is right. Our Lord is a God of innumerable amounts of grace and wants to grant forgiveness, we must just come before Him acknowledging our sins with the desire to overcome.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Some people don’t like change, but that is what repentance is: change. We must change from sin to holiness, trimming the fat along the way.
In Christ
Andrew
(Andrew is no longer a part of this ministry, as he purposely lied, deceived me, and then betrayed me. These actions were done willfully and with intent. Although many of these writings are helpful, he completely abandoned this calling, and joined up with the world instead. Nothing can dictate Our lives more than a love for Christ Jesus and being chosen to His service, but he chose to love the world instead.)
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 