Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 28, 2017
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12
I once watched a video in which a woman talked about her temptation to have an affair. She shared how she was almost unfaithful until she spoke with a couple of friends who urged her to work things out with her mate. And then she confessed something that piqued my curiosity. “I think I am polyamorous and always have been. I’m just one of those people who can’t be fulfilled with one partner.”
I hadn’t ever heard the term “polyamorous” before. (If you have, forgive me if it seems I have been hiding under a rock.) The woman’s confession sounded as if she had an unavoidable condition, like being born with one leg. So, I naturally had to look up the definition of “polyamorous”. Here’s what I found: “The state of having multiple sexually or romantically committed relationships at the same time, with the consent of all partners involved.” So, this woman was basically saying, “This is just the way I am. I can’t help it if I am unfaithful to my mate.”
This grieved me. Why? First of all, because she is deceived. Second, because the world says, “I can’t help it” or “I was made this way” to justify sin. Because, if we can’t help it, then we can embrace it and even celebrate it, which means we can say what we’re doing is okay, even when it’s not. We can say something is right, even though it’s very wrong. We convince ourselves that we are living in freedom, when we’re really all bound up. God has a better plan for those who belong to Him: true freedom.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4).
This doesn’t mean we won’t wrestle with sin. It doesn’t mean there will never be times when we won’t love sin more than we love God and make wrong choices. It just means that we don’t have to sin when we know something is wrong. We don’t have to say something is right or “It’s just the way I am” to make us feel better about ourselves. We don’t have to justify. We can choose God’s way.
Think back before you came to Christ. You probably had behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs you thought were alright with God. But then, He began to make you more like Him. And when He did, you recognized that those behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs really weren’t alright at all.
Which brings me to my main point: When God reveals to us that something is sinful, we don’t have to give in to it. We don’t have to be mastered by it. As believers, we have been given the amazing choice to live in freedom. We can choose the life (Deuteronomy 30:19; John 10:10-11). How marvelous!
“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Prayer
Lord, help me to remember that you have given me the ability to say no to sin and yes to you. If it wasn’t so, you wouldn’t ask me to obey. Thank you that I don’t have to be mastered by sin. Amen.Application
Ponder the thought that God has already set you free from sin which means you have the power to choose His way. Ask Him to help you believe Him so you can walk in the plans He has for you.Related Reading
Romans 6:12; Psalm 119:133; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11Post/Tweet today
Sin tries to convince us that we are living in freedom, when we’re really all bound up. #WisdomHunters #NotMasteredBySinWorship Resource
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