We are tested every day on this as we are to lay down our lives daily. We must learn to become completely dependent on Christ for our lives...as in...give us this day our daily Manna (who is Christ).
I agree with your assesment. I believe that True Working faith in Christ will be
His MATURE PRINCIPLE forming our character. Christ went to the cross feeling physically miserable, + forsaken!
MATURE PRINCIPLE is not feeling or emotion,
but Obedience. So yes,
True 'MATURE' FAITH will even die before even sinning. Eccl. 12:13-14 is not over yet!
Ones mind is to be already 'daily' made up as you say,
Dan. 3:12-19 finds in verse
8-9 these three
with their mind made up regardless of the outcome. And that is to be
our mature level before it is all over.
666 is that final testing.
Dan. 3
[
12] There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
[
13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
[
14] Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
[
15] Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
[
16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
[
17]
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
[
18]
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
[
19] Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
OK: I did not answer the question! I do daily make up my mind both in evening & morning devotions to make my LOVE for Christ first place in my life.
(tough love duties as well as the easy!) I claim the Promise of Phil. 4:13 + 2 Cor. 12:9. And I know that FAITH is not a bragging OSAS done deal, so we will see what
the end will bring in its time. Heb. 11:13. God does indeed know, but I only know by FAITH!
--Elijah