Romans 8:1-4
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won’t
be punished. The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ
Jesus and will set you free from sin and death. The Law of Moses cannot
do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you
free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a
sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ’s body to condemn sin. He did
this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit
instead of our own desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I
heard some talk show hosts debating the pros and cons of “cheat
days”…days when people who are working hard to lose weight and get fit
are allowed to “cheat” and eat whatever they want for just that one
day. Usually, this is only permitted once a week…and some fitness
“experts” say it helps people stay on track and feel like they are not
missing out on the foods they love. Others say it makes no sense – that
people are not “wired” to stop with just a small sampling of these
“forbidden” foods and will often consume so many calories in this day of
cheating that they negate all of their efforts throughout the rest of
the week. Either way, this “cheat day” represents the human inability of
most of us to maintain a rigid regimen of some sort for an extended
period of time…much less forever!
I share this to illustrate
that a lot of us have the best of intentions. We are determined to lose
weight, stop smoking or some other addictive habit, keep our
house/car/yard/workspace neater, spend more time in Bible study, visit
friends and loved ones more often, read 100 books or more a year, watch
less TV, and achieve countless other goals and aspirations. And we
start out great…for a day – or maybe even a few weeks. Then we start to
falter. One slip here…another there…one missed workout this week,
followed by two next week…a television show or two…you know the drill!
Pretty soon, we have an arsenal of excuses for why we failed - and an
equal number of vows to do better – until we often give up and decide to
just “be who we are” and suffer the consequences...even at the risk of
death and personal danger to our health and well-being.
As
serious as this can be (depending on what we are talking about ) it
cannot compare to the severity of our attitude in this regard when it
comes to sin. In these verses from Romans 8, the Apostle Paul points
out why we cannot be trusted to handle our own atonement for sin. He
clearly illustrates that our selfish desires – and our tons of excuses –
make it impossible for God to merely set down His Law and expect us to
follow it! So God sent Jesus to stand in the gap…to do what we could
not…to pay for our sins once and for all.
Understand that this is
not a license to live as we please. We cannot ask Jesus to die for our
sins and then make every day a “cheat day.” But because of Jesus, we
do not have to worry that God will renege on His promise to write our
name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and give us a seat at His table for all
Eternity when we make a misstep.
If we confess our sins and ask
forgiveness, Jesus will wash us clean with His own blood. He took our
punishment on the cross. We do not have to live in fear or the constant
dread that we are going to fail in some way. We are freed to live in
His abundance…to do our very best every day because we want to
honor and please Him – not because we are afraid to do otherwise. I
don’t know about you, but this seems like a far superior plan to trying
to follow God’s Law on my own – or even a “cheat day.” I may not have
any willpower when it comes to diet and a consistent exercise routine,
keeping clutter at bay, and other habits and behaviors I would like to
change. But when it comes to Jesus, He has my heart – and my back – and
it doesn’t get any better! Can you say the same for yourself?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label freedom from sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom from sin. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 29, 2014
1 Peter 3:10-11
“Do you really love life?
Do you want to be happy?
Then stop saying cruel things
and quit telling lies.
Give up your evil ways
and do right,
as you find and follow
the road that leads
to peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our 3-year-old niece, Zola, is a “runner”. She loves to break free from holding the hand of an adult and run…into parking lots, out into the street, or across the yard. It’s a problem that could have serious consequences, and we are all trying to impress upon her that she must not do this! When she ran from me after church, I told her, “You cannot come to our house this week to spend the night if you are not going to mind us!” She began to wail…”But I want to come!” I reminded her that she must start doing right! She is definitely a “work in progress”!
As we get older, the specifics of our “evil ways” may change…but the basic principle is the same. There are temptations on all sides, and we succumb to them for a variety of reasons…ranging from a desire to fit in to the yearning to “be our own person” and exercise our independence! It’s something of a “grown-up” version of running into the street! Regardless of the reason, the results are often the same…hurt feelings, emotional and physical danger, disappointment, and unhappiness, to name a few.
In order to be truly happy and “free”, we must trust Jesus to help us release the “hold” of Satan…to help us rid our lives of evil – lying, cheating, gossip, criticism and insults, cruelty of any kind, and more. We must strive to live more like Jesus each and every minute of the day. As we begin to cling to Him and HIS ways…we will find that our lives are actually more carefree and joyful.
Do you really love life? Do you truly want to be joyful and happy? Jesus is waiting to show you how. Are you ready to take His hand and let Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“Do you really love life?
Do you want to be happy?
Then stop saying cruel things
and quit telling lies.
Give up your evil ways
and do right,
as you find and follow
the road that leads
to peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our 3-year-old niece, Zola, is a “runner”. She loves to break free from holding the hand of an adult and run…into parking lots, out into the street, or across the yard. It’s a problem that could have serious consequences, and we are all trying to impress upon her that she must not do this! When she ran from me after church, I told her, “You cannot come to our house this week to spend the night if you are not going to mind us!” She began to wail…”But I want to come!” I reminded her that she must start doing right! She is definitely a “work in progress”!
As we get older, the specifics of our “evil ways” may change…but the basic principle is the same. There are temptations on all sides, and we succumb to them for a variety of reasons…ranging from a desire to fit in to the yearning to “be our own person” and exercise our independence! It’s something of a “grown-up” version of running into the street! Regardless of the reason, the results are often the same…hurt feelings, emotional and physical danger, disappointment, and unhappiness, to name a few.
In order to be truly happy and “free”, we must trust Jesus to help us release the “hold” of Satan…to help us rid our lives of evil – lying, cheating, gossip, criticism and insults, cruelty of any kind, and more. We must strive to live more like Jesus each and every minute of the day. As we begin to cling to Him and HIS ways…we will find that our lives are actually more carefree and joyful.
Do you really love life? Do you truly want to be joyful and happy? Jesus is waiting to show you how. Are you ready to take His hand and let Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 11, 2012
Joshua 24:14-18
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
For the person with an addictive personality, there is no middle ground. An alcoholic can’t have “just one drink.” The person addicted to nicotine cannot smoke a lone cigarette every month or two. Someone hooked on gambling is not able to play one slot machine and walk away. Even if we do not have an addictive personality, many of us have trouble drawing a line in the sand on certain things.
Some of us are permissive parents who cannot say “No” to our children. Others have trouble with budgets and making wise decisions about where and how to spend their money. Still others are so eager to be popular and accepted that they say one thing to one person and another to someone else – and hope the two never meet! The bottom line is that in many instances in life, we are all over the map with regard to who we associate with – and how… where our allegiances lie…and what matters to us!
Even worse, a lot of us cannot decide whether we are totally in with God or not. We want desperately to be “good Christians” – to live well and please God… and most certainly to be assured of an eternity in heaven. But we still want to dabble in sin… to share in juicy gossip or enjoy our “one little vice”… to occasionally slip a little slur or expletive into our conversation or behave badly and chalk it up to “too much to drink” or a “night out with the boys/girls.” You know the phrase… “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” We want to play fast and loose with our faith… and hope that no one (especially GOD) notices!
None of us is perfect, and there will certainly be slip-ups for each of us. But when we come to a place where we can boldly claim, “I am serving the LORD - I have decided to be totally in… to go whole hog… to make every effort to follow Him and live more like Jesus every day,” we have turned a HUGE corner in our Christian faith walk. When we make a concerted effort to lay down the vices and sins – even the most minor of infractions – we have stepped onto a higher plain. We have attained a deeper level of commitment and intimacy with God.
In a way, this passage is telling us to get off the fence. You’re either totally in, or you’re not in at all. You can’t be a recovering addict and still dabble in your addiction. You can’t be a follower of Jesus who desires a deep and meaningful relationship with Him then choose to fiddle with occasional sin or “little vices.” And honestly, if you are fully committed to Christ, you won’t want to do this! But it takes dedication, effort, and a concerted determination to do better – a steadfastness to live for Jesus each and every day.
I can’t adequately express how incredible this is. But I can tell you that the transformation is profound. Living with purpose and an “all-in” commitment to serve and obey God is a game changer! Everything about your life will feel different… better… more focused… and joyful! I know that many people feel that choosing to wholeheartedly serve God will mean giving up something “fun” or comfortable. But the truth is that this is liberation in its highest form!
Choose who you will serve… the choice IS yours! But as for me and my house, we are serving the LORD… and this has made all the difference! Are you ready to do the same?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
For the person with an addictive personality, there is no middle ground. An alcoholic can’t have “just one drink.” The person addicted to nicotine cannot smoke a lone cigarette every month or two. Someone hooked on gambling is not able to play one slot machine and walk away. Even if we do not have an addictive personality, many of us have trouble drawing a line in the sand on certain things.
Some of us are permissive parents who cannot say “No” to our children. Others have trouble with budgets and making wise decisions about where and how to spend their money. Still others are so eager to be popular and accepted that they say one thing to one person and another to someone else – and hope the two never meet! The bottom line is that in many instances in life, we are all over the map with regard to who we associate with – and how… where our allegiances lie…and what matters to us!
Even worse, a lot of us cannot decide whether we are totally in with God or not. We want desperately to be “good Christians” – to live well and please God… and most certainly to be assured of an eternity in heaven. But we still want to dabble in sin… to share in juicy gossip or enjoy our “one little vice”… to occasionally slip a little slur or expletive into our conversation or behave badly and chalk it up to “too much to drink” or a “night out with the boys/girls.” You know the phrase… “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” We want to play fast and loose with our faith… and hope that no one (especially GOD) notices!
None of us is perfect, and there will certainly be slip-ups for each of us. But when we come to a place where we can boldly claim, “I am serving the LORD - I have decided to be totally in… to go whole hog… to make every effort to follow Him and live more like Jesus every day,” we have turned a HUGE corner in our Christian faith walk. When we make a concerted effort to lay down the vices and sins – even the most minor of infractions – we have stepped onto a higher plain. We have attained a deeper level of commitment and intimacy with God.
In a way, this passage is telling us to get off the fence. You’re either totally in, or you’re not in at all. You can’t be a recovering addict and still dabble in your addiction. You can’t be a follower of Jesus who desires a deep and meaningful relationship with Him then choose to fiddle with occasional sin or “little vices.” And honestly, if you are fully committed to Christ, you won’t want to do this! But it takes dedication, effort, and a concerted determination to do better – a steadfastness to live for Jesus each and every day.
I can’t adequately express how incredible this is. But I can tell you that the transformation is profound. Living with purpose and an “all-in” commitment to serve and obey God is a game changer! Everything about your life will feel different… better… more focused… and joyful! I know that many people feel that choosing to wholeheartedly serve God will mean giving up something “fun” or comfortable. But the truth is that this is liberation in its highest form!
Choose who you will serve… the choice IS yours! But as for me and my house, we are serving the LORD… and this has made all the difference! Are you ready to do the same?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 27, 2012
Ephesians 1:7-10
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Bill paying is a big deal with me. I have pop-up reminders and schedules to help me remember to pay each bill well before the due date. I am thankful that I have the funds to pay my bills, and I often check the balance in my accounts before making a purchase… just to be sure the money is there to cover my debts! I’ll be honest… a couple of times I thought an online payment “sent” and my connection apparently dropped. The bill became past due, penalties were incurred… and I was miserable at the thought of spending more money than necessary because of a failure to be even more diligent than I assumed was necessary! So I can imagine how this must be compounded for someone who gets caught in a vicious cycle of spending more than he/she has. The hopelessness and futility that must ensue as a person slides further down a spiraling tunnel of trouble simply boggles my mind.
Imagine for one minute how it would feel for someone to say, “I’m paying every one of your bills… you are debt free. You don’t have to pay back the money. Just “clean up your act” and do the right thing moving forward. Don’t buy more than you can afford. Live in a way that says, ‘I was worth rescuing!’ Pay the favor and blessings forward to others because of what I did for you.” As I read this passage today, I was struck by the hope and good news it brings to each of us. Because this is exactly what Jesus has done on our behalf.
We were drowning in the debt of sin. We had “bills” we could never pay, and they were growing exponentially every single day. Then Jesus stepped in and said, “I’m paying every single debt. You don’t owe a dime… you are completely free… totally released… no interest or penalties are incurred. Now go and share my Good News with others.” Can you feel the release of this burden? Are you somewhat overwhelmed by its impact? Does the gravity of what Jesus did for each of us shake you to your very core… humble you and fill you with a desire to be better for it? It should!
Thousands, if not millions of people in this country are drowning in debt they cannot repay. Because of a downturn in the economy, catastrophic events beyond their control, or even downright carelessness, many cannot ever begin think about paying down the debts they have incurred. We see lawyers, financial advisors and others advertising every day that they can help consolidate and reduce our debt... for a fee, of course! Aren’t you glad that there is ONE who can totally erase the biggest debt of all… our sins? The one debt that each of us has is totally reparable.
You may need help with your finances, but help for your soul is already here! Freedom in Jesus is the most important component… a critical first step toward becoming debt-free in all areas of life. Have you accepted Jesus’ offer of help today? Have you allowed Him to take control of your life, your liabilities, and your future? Are you operating in the abundant freedom from sin that He offers? This is a great day to allow Jesus to wipe the slate clean and give you a fresh start. Pray with me that this will be the first day of your true freedom. Make the commitment to clean up your debts and move forward in the abundant freedom a life in Christ offers. Are you abundantly free in Christ and living in His plan for your life? Isn’t it time you were?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Bill paying is a big deal with me. I have pop-up reminders and schedules to help me remember to pay each bill well before the due date. I am thankful that I have the funds to pay my bills, and I often check the balance in my accounts before making a purchase… just to be sure the money is there to cover my debts! I’ll be honest… a couple of times I thought an online payment “sent” and my connection apparently dropped. The bill became past due, penalties were incurred… and I was miserable at the thought of spending more money than necessary because of a failure to be even more diligent than I assumed was necessary! So I can imagine how this must be compounded for someone who gets caught in a vicious cycle of spending more than he/she has. The hopelessness and futility that must ensue as a person slides further down a spiraling tunnel of trouble simply boggles my mind.
Imagine for one minute how it would feel for someone to say, “I’m paying every one of your bills… you are debt free. You don’t have to pay back the money. Just “clean up your act” and do the right thing moving forward. Don’t buy more than you can afford. Live in a way that says, ‘I was worth rescuing!’ Pay the favor and blessings forward to others because of what I did for you.” As I read this passage today, I was struck by the hope and good news it brings to each of us. Because this is exactly what Jesus has done on our behalf.
We were drowning in the debt of sin. We had “bills” we could never pay, and they were growing exponentially every single day. Then Jesus stepped in and said, “I’m paying every single debt. You don’t owe a dime… you are completely free… totally released… no interest or penalties are incurred. Now go and share my Good News with others.” Can you feel the release of this burden? Are you somewhat overwhelmed by its impact? Does the gravity of what Jesus did for each of us shake you to your very core… humble you and fill you with a desire to be better for it? It should!
Thousands, if not millions of people in this country are drowning in debt they cannot repay. Because of a downturn in the economy, catastrophic events beyond their control, or even downright carelessness, many cannot ever begin think about paying down the debts they have incurred. We see lawyers, financial advisors and others advertising every day that they can help consolidate and reduce our debt... for a fee, of course! Aren’t you glad that there is ONE who can totally erase the biggest debt of all… our sins? The one debt that each of us has is totally reparable.
You may need help with your finances, but help for your soul is already here! Freedom in Jesus is the most important component… a critical first step toward becoming debt-free in all areas of life. Have you accepted Jesus’ offer of help today? Have you allowed Him to take control of your life, your liabilities, and your future? Are you operating in the abundant freedom from sin that He offers? This is a great day to allow Jesus to wipe the slate clean and give you a fresh start. Pray with me that this will be the first day of your true freedom. Make the commitment to clean up your debts and move forward in the abundant freedom a life in Christ offers. Are you abundantly free in Christ and living in His plan for your life? Isn’t it time you were?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 21, 2012
Luke 11:4
Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted.’”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Virtually everyone is thinking about the tragic shooting that occurred at Aurora, Colorado, yesterday. And how could you not? People are covering this story on every news media outlet – it’s all over social media. And the question of the day seems to be, “Why?” Why would someone do this? What drove them to such madness? How could someone who high school classmates described as an ordinary, albeit geeky nerd do such heinous things? What makes a seemingly brilliant student lose focus and become so dark and evil?
Before you jump straight to placing the blame on Satan, consider that it’s not quite that simple. I heard one analyst this morning describe this behavior as possibly being the result of “injustice collecting.” In other words, some people do not seem to react to “injustice” in their life… from what seems like the smallest insult to a much larger affront. Instead, these offenses build up… they are collected over time. Sometimes the person becomes sullen, withdrawn, and someone we might call an “angry old cuss.” But sometimes… this “collection” is so distressing that the person becomes totally unbalanced because of it… and he/she may react in a serious – if not violent – manner.
Either way, you can see that failure to forgive those who have wronged you can lead to some serious consequences. And yes, the devil will dance over this! We are all guilty of “injustice collecting” to some degree. There has been a point in all of our lives where we have said, “I’ve HAD it!” We’ve “blown our tops” and behaved disruptively… if only on a relatively small scale. But any time we do this, we have succumbed to the temptation to harbor our grudges or ill feelings – and allow them to fester.
This is a good time for all of us to stop and ask God to give us strength… to help us to operate in forgiveness… to let go of even the smallest offenses and grudges. Ask God to help you forgive quickly and move forward. Call on Him to remove any sense of irritation or unsettled feelings – and to help you operate in love and peace in every situation. Whenever you feel tempted to add an offense or injustice to your “collection,” stop and ask God to remove this desire. Never give the devil an inch – or a moment’s pleasure!
I will be the first in line to tell you that forgiveness is often hard. But there is no way we can ask God to pardon us if we are unwilling to do the same for others. I am so thankful that God doesn’t harbor my offenses toward Him. If I want His forgiveness – if I want to be more like Him - I can’t do this, either. What about you? Do you have an “injustice collection?” Isn’t this the perfect day to get rid of it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted.’”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Virtually everyone is thinking about the tragic shooting that occurred at Aurora, Colorado, yesterday. And how could you not? People are covering this story on every news media outlet – it’s all over social media. And the question of the day seems to be, “Why?” Why would someone do this? What drove them to such madness? How could someone who high school classmates described as an ordinary, albeit geeky nerd do such heinous things? What makes a seemingly brilliant student lose focus and become so dark and evil?
Before you jump straight to placing the blame on Satan, consider that it’s not quite that simple. I heard one analyst this morning describe this behavior as possibly being the result of “injustice collecting.” In other words, some people do not seem to react to “injustice” in their life… from what seems like the smallest insult to a much larger affront. Instead, these offenses build up… they are collected over time. Sometimes the person becomes sullen, withdrawn, and someone we might call an “angry old cuss.” But sometimes… this “collection” is so distressing that the person becomes totally unbalanced because of it… and he/she may react in a serious – if not violent – manner.
Either way, you can see that failure to forgive those who have wronged you can lead to some serious consequences. And yes, the devil will dance over this! We are all guilty of “injustice collecting” to some degree. There has been a point in all of our lives where we have said, “I’ve HAD it!” We’ve “blown our tops” and behaved disruptively… if only on a relatively small scale. But any time we do this, we have succumbed to the temptation to harbor our grudges or ill feelings – and allow them to fester.
This is a good time for all of us to stop and ask God to give us strength… to help us to operate in forgiveness… to let go of even the smallest offenses and grudges. Ask God to help you forgive quickly and move forward. Call on Him to remove any sense of irritation or unsettled feelings – and to help you operate in love and peace in every situation. Whenever you feel tempted to add an offense or injustice to your “collection,” stop and ask God to remove this desire. Never give the devil an inch – or a moment’s pleasure!
I will be the first in line to tell you that forgiveness is often hard. But there is no way we can ask God to pardon us if we are unwilling to do the same for others. I am so thankful that God doesn’t harbor my offenses toward Him. If I want His forgiveness – if I want to be more like Him - I can’t do this, either. What about you? Do you have an “injustice collection?” Isn’t this the perfect day to get rid of it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2012
1 John 3:7-10
Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the reality TV show, “What Not to Wear,” the fashion experts take all of the clothing in a person’s closet and analyze each piece. Most, if not all of it, ends up in a symbolic trash can. The person with such poor fashion sense is told, “You can never wear this again.” A lot of these people protest, beg, plead, and even cry. They want to keep “just one thing,” for “old time’s sake”. But the fashion experts are insistent that the old things must go. When the person is “made over,” they usually comment that they would not want their old things in the closet again. They see how much better the “new person” they have become truly is… and often the transformation is internal as well as external.
In terms of our Christian faith, we have been “made over.” And many of us have tossed our “old life” into the trash can. The trouble is… a lot of us kept one or two things in the back of the closet… for sentimental reasons…out of fear… or “just because.” And we keep dragging these things back out from time to time and wearing them!
You may have read today’s passage and asked, “If God saved us through the blood of Jesus, why are we still bothered by the devil?” In my prayer journal/sermon notes, I have written that the word “destroy” is a Greek root word – luo – which means “to undo and loosen.” Jesus “loosed” us from the curse of sin. He did not “half-save” us… but He didn’t wipe it out the curse of sin, because we have to do that by choosing to follow God completely. It may seem like we are free from the bondage of sin, doing things our way and receiving blessings… but until we completely follow the will of God, we will never experience His full blessings.
If you want to be blessed, to prosper and fully lose the curses of your old sinful life, you must obey God’s word. You must ask Him to strengthen you with the courage to dump ALL of your old ways in the “trash can” and “dress yourself” in His grace, mercy, love, and righteousness.
Too many of us are bogged down by the baggage of old sins that we cannot seem to surrender. We often make excuses… “it’s always been this way”…”this is as good as it gets”…”this is all I deserve”…”I’m doing the best I can.” In truth, God has so much more He wants to give us… we deserve more as His heirs… and until we completely surrender to His will, we can do much more to draw closer to Him!
Ask God to show you how and where you need to shed roadblocks to living fully in His blessings. Listen for His answers. Trust Him to give you the strength and courage to take whatever steps are necessary… and put on His full armor. Dress yourself in the glory of the LORD, and get ready to be amazed by His blessings upon the “new you”… and the lives of those you encounter.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the reality TV show, “What Not to Wear,” the fashion experts take all of the clothing in a person’s closet and analyze each piece. Most, if not all of it, ends up in a symbolic trash can. The person with such poor fashion sense is told, “You can never wear this again.” A lot of these people protest, beg, plead, and even cry. They want to keep “just one thing,” for “old time’s sake”. But the fashion experts are insistent that the old things must go. When the person is “made over,” they usually comment that they would not want their old things in the closet again. They see how much better the “new person” they have become truly is… and often the transformation is internal as well as external.
In terms of our Christian faith, we have been “made over.” And many of us have tossed our “old life” into the trash can. The trouble is… a lot of us kept one or two things in the back of the closet… for sentimental reasons…out of fear… or “just because.” And we keep dragging these things back out from time to time and wearing them!
You may have read today’s passage and asked, “If God saved us through the blood of Jesus, why are we still bothered by the devil?” In my prayer journal/sermon notes, I have written that the word “destroy” is a Greek root word – luo – which means “to undo and loosen.” Jesus “loosed” us from the curse of sin. He did not “half-save” us… but He didn’t wipe it out the curse of sin, because we have to do that by choosing to follow God completely. It may seem like we are free from the bondage of sin, doing things our way and receiving blessings… but until we completely follow the will of God, we will never experience His full blessings.
If you want to be blessed, to prosper and fully lose the curses of your old sinful life, you must obey God’s word. You must ask Him to strengthen you with the courage to dump ALL of your old ways in the “trash can” and “dress yourself” in His grace, mercy, love, and righteousness.
Too many of us are bogged down by the baggage of old sins that we cannot seem to surrender. We often make excuses… “it’s always been this way”…”this is as good as it gets”…”this is all I deserve”…”I’m doing the best I can.” In truth, God has so much more He wants to give us… we deserve more as His heirs… and until we completely surrender to His will, we can do much more to draw closer to Him!
Ask God to show you how and where you need to shed roadblocks to living fully in His blessings. Listen for His answers. Trust Him to give you the strength and courage to take whatever steps are necessary… and put on His full armor. Dress yourself in the glory of the LORD, and get ready to be amazed by His blessings upon the “new you”… and the lives of those you encounter.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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