Run from Sin!
Today’s Truth
Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths.
~ Proverbs 4:27 (NCV)
Friend to Friend
At the close of the sermon, a church member came forward to speak with the pastor. He was very upset because of the sin in his life and his blatant disobedience to God. With tears streaming down his face, the repentant man took the pastor’s hand to confess that his life was full of sin, but what came out was, “My sin is full of life.” I can relate.
I don’t know about you, but my sin is definitely “full of life.” I am always amused but also saddened by people who think that just because I am in full-time ministry, I am holier than they are, better than they are, or don’t have to battle sin like they do. Just ask my family. They will blow that theory right out of the water. The fact is that as long as I live in this fallen world and sport this frail humanity, I will wrestle with sin.
However, I have refined several tactics for dealing with my sinful
nature. Rationalization is one of my personal favorites. And there is
always the handy comparison ploy – measuring my sin against the sin of
another. At times, I subscribe to the popular “bury it and hope it will
go away” tactic. The reality is that nothing satisfies the payment sin
demands except the blood of Jesus Christ and my response to His
sacrifice in true unadulterated repentance - on my face before my Holy
God.
When we turn our lives over to God, He sets our feet on
the right path. But to stay on that path requires a continual choice to
run from sin. With our flawed choices, we take side trips, create
detours, and wind up on the wrong road headed in the wrong direction.
Solomon warns us to stay away from evil paths. “Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths” (Proverbs 4:27,
NLT). “Keep away” literally means “to turn aside or drag from.” In
other words, when we see sin or even the opportunity to sin, we should
turn around and run in the opposite direction. We should “drag
ourselves” away from sin. What do we do instead? We flirt with sin.
We want to be delivered from temptation but would really like to keep in touch.
We pray for God to “lead us not into temptation” and then deliberately place ourselves in its path.
In our arrogance, we think we can handle sin and the
temptation to sin on our own. That very attitude is an open invitation
for the enemy, daring him to take his best shot.
There is no holding pattern for believers, nor can we live in a neutral state. We are either going forward or sliding backward. We are either being renewed or allowing ourselves to be consumed. Do not relinquish any more life territory to the enemy. Run from sin!
Let’s Pray
Father, forgive me for the sin in my life. Right now, I choose to turn away from that sin. I turn to You, Lord. I know that I am lost and totally helpless without You. Thank You for the unconditional love and unending forgiveness that I find in You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And
God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that
you can endure it” (NIV).
Consider the following promises found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. What do they mean to you and how do they apply to your life?
- No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.
- God is faithful.
- He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
- He will provide a way out.
More from the Girlfriends
Prayer is one of our most powerful weapons against temptation and sin.
If you want a powerful prayer life, I encourage you to check out my
husband’s E-Book, Chair Time. It is a short read that not only will change the way you view prayer but will also teach you how to hear the voice of God.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
As long as I live in this fallen world and sport this frail humanity, I will wrestle with sin.
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