Living Free - Dec. 13, 2012
Today's Scripture
"Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God." Romans 6:12-13 NLT
Thoughts for Today
"You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). When sin controls our life, it becomes our god. And this happens all too often to everyone--including Christians. Sadly, the statistics on divorce, pornography, adultery, and similar behaviors are not that different in the lives of Christians. And then there are the everyday so-called "little" offenses: gossip, anger, lying. You get the idea.
Today's scripture warns us not to let sin control the way we live. When we give in to sinful desires, our body becomes an instrument of evil to serve sin.
Consider this …
Jesus paid a great price to give us new life. Now we must give ourselves completely to God. Then instead of our body being an instrument of sin, it becomes an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
How does your life look? Is it controlled by pornography or alcohol or drugs? An adulterous relationship? Anger? Perhaps it's gossip. Success at all cost. Gambling. Pride. Are you ready to let God regain control of your life? Are you ready to be free of the sin? Sin hurts you. It hurts those you care about. And most of all, it displeases God and separates you from him.
God wants to help you, but you have to make a choice. Will you ask for his help today?
Father, forgive me for this sin in my life. I know I've let it take control. I am ready to give it up, but I need your help. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …
The Ten Commandments: Applying the Foundations of Living to My Personal Life by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct and ethical decisions is essential for believers surrounded by relativistic values. This guide helps us understand God's boundaries. It shows how the Ten Commandments apply today. It also discusses the biblical laws on which the legal codes of every civilized society are based. This guide is written in a way that helps people see the Ten Commandments in light of today's problems. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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