2 Corinthians 8:9-11 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

You are able but are you willing?

Matthew 21:28-30 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

The lesson is about what you do in obedience of faith, not what your mouth speaks. But the key here should be the more important issue which is often overlooked. Both heard the request of the Father. Obedience of faith begins with hearing God. If you haven’t heard God, what are you doing?

God will cause you to be willing. How do I know this?

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

I was tested many times before I understood. Why would God ask a son to do a thing if He already knew the son would not obey? So that the son would know his heart wasn’t right before God.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

God does.

Ephesians 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Did the desires of the flesh stop when you were born again? No, flesh is flesh and the appetites remain. So how can we eat and be satisfied without sinning? As I pointed out yesterday moderation is key and not allowing those appetites to dictate not only behavior but also your very thoughts.

Psalm 36:1-4 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Your heart’s desire is not to be wicked, yet within us is the capacity to sin, not the inclination. We must remember that love is a choice. Do you choose to love the Lord more than the desires of the flesh?