Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance:
Often times we are the ones who repent of our calling in life or give back the gifts that our Heav
enly Father has offered to us. We (so lightly of heart) think it's ok to trade one sin for another, if we lay down a habit or sin which we are convicted of by the Lord, than we somehow allow our self to think it's ok to replace it with what we consider to be a lesser sin in it's place.When the devil sees us struggling to overcome an area that separates us from the "Holy of Holies" (that most intimate area of worship to God) he (the devil) begins to realize our potential to throw him completely out of our life. Knowing he cannot convince us that it's ok to over ride the conviction of the Holy Ghost in this sin of separation at hand, he simply helps us to concentrate on overcoming it ... while (unconsciously on our part) he slips into our mind, the idea of going back to pick up (or accept again) a sin we have earlier cast aside for our Lord, and convinces us that it is somehow now become small enough in our life that God will not mind us using this habit or sin again, (after all, we are laying down the sin that so easily besets us at the moment). But unfortunately for us at this moment of weakness, we forget that in the sight of God .. sin is sin... no matter how small or great!
Paul says in (Philippians 3) that we are to run our race , forgetting that which is past, constantly looking and striving toward the mark of the High calling of God which is in Christ Jesus. When we are struggling to overcome a habit or sin in our life we are never to look back at what we have already given up and allow satin to convince us that we have done a lot already, that God will understand if we fail in this struggle. It is satin's only hope, to some how (any way possible) keep us from attaining a higher level of worship and obedience to our Lord.
Obedience is better than sacrifice ... why?
because;
* when we "sacrifice" we struggle to please
* when we "obey" we find freedom to overcome with power and authority ... in obedience, worship and praise (pleasure to the Lord) come natural. Through worship and praise we enter into that "Most Holy of Holies" where we find the "grace" to overcome.
"Grace" to overcome the struggles, the temptations to turn back to an earlier place in our Lord.
God never wants us to turn back, He wants us to stay focused on Him and continue going forward. Never looking at
what we have already accomplished, but for ever seeking a closer realm of worship, praise, and obedience to the One who overcame that we might be over comers.