Contrary action is merely doing the opposite action of the way we feel or think when we know our thinking or emotions are out of alignment with Gods will. The worldly system has adopted a humanistic approach to overcoming our difficulties. This approach is limited in its ability to help people because it does not presuppose the nature of our wrongs and does not tap into Gods power. Living our way into good thinking is a paradoxical approach that is heavily supported by the Bible. Today we delve into this most interesting and powerful method of transforming our lives into the likeness of Christ. Below are some principles that are foundational for being entirely ready to become more like Christ. Below are are six Biblical principles for stepping into contrary action.
God designed us to be conformed to His image. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis, 1:26-28, ESV)God is preparing us for eternity. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians, 3:18, ESV)
Our sinful nature cannot be discounted but rather counteracted. "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." (Galatians 5:17, ESV)God disciplines our lives in this simple way. "Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, (Titus, 2:12, ESV)
Transformation occurs when we align ourselves with Gods will and the Spirit begins to reign in our lives. "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (Romans, 8:9, ESV)Never ever give up. "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus" (Revelation, 14:12, ESV). Christ understands our sinful nature and when he condescended to us as God incarnate He forfeited certain privileges and experienced extreme anguish under the weight of sin. It was at this point in the Garden of Gethsemane that He demonstrated the greatest act of love and contrary action the world will ever know.