Slaves to Our Habits
1/2/2018



"His own iniquities will capture (ensnare) the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin" (Proverbs 5:22)

 

There are a number of passages like our text and they direct our attention to the fact that sin contains an element of servitude or enslavement.  "In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared" (Psalms 9:16).  "Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself" (Proverb 22:24-25). Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(John. 8:34).  Are you struggling with some habit that holds you as its slave—struggling, wrestling, and always fighting it, yet somehow never able to conquer it? I think in varying degrees we all have something we are struggling with and that we are trying to overcome.

 

Life confronts everyone with alternatives and we can make the right choice only by faith. By faith Moses made a number of important decisions by which he cast his lot with the people of God (Hebrews 11:24-25).  It is only by faith that we can decide on the things that please God, exalt Christ and help others. Without faith, sin is enslaving.  Since we have exercised faith in choosing to serve the Lord what can we do in overcoming our sinful habits?

 

When we identify a weakness or habit determine to start today and not tomorrow to try to overcome it. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (Proverb 27:1).  Quit telling ourselves "one of these days." Delay always makes it harder to change. 

 

Recognize you are to blame, not others.  Blaming others started with Adam blaming Eve.  "The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the LORD" (Proverb 19:3). 

 

Ask the Lord to help you because you need a power greater than yourself in order to change. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Romans 6:12-13; Philippians 4:13).

 

Avoid situations where you are tempted.  "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (Romans 13:14).  Paul also said, "And do not give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:27).  Stay away from situations that cause us to fall. 

 

The positive side of this: "... the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).  The spiritual battle for sin is fought in the mind. If we want to change our life, it starts in our thought processes (Proverb 4:23). Whatever captures our attention captures us!  That is why Paul said, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

 

IN CHRIST ALONE

 

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

 

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

 

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless Babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

 

Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

 

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

 

And as He stands in victory

Sins curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From a lifes first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

 

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Could ever pluck me from His hand

Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand

 

I will stand, I will stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground, all other ground

Is sinking sand, is sinking sand

So I stand

 

 

"Daily Devotions by Guy Roberson"






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