Are you able to be completely free of sin?
No, this isn't a "trick" question.
The truth of the matter is that we have all paved our own way into hell by every single sin we have ever committed. That easy pathway is the same one we follow every single time we give into temptation. Following it has become "second nature" to us.
Remember; "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." (Mat 7:13-14) nlt
Keeping away from sin is a war. It really is you against the bad guys. Lots of folks think there can be no way to win this war, seeing all that the opposition has stacked up against us, but God has told us differently!
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph 6:10-13) mkj
The "whole armor of God" is mentioned twice in these three verses... and I can almost hear somebody thinking out loud, "Aww, great! I can't memorize ALL the bible!" Most of us can't... but, we all need a "seatbelt" to make us feel a bit more secure when the forces of evil come calling. Pick a bible verse. It doesn't really matter which one, so long as it is one that gives you a feeling of safety. Repeat it a few times until it becomes a part of you. It is now a piece of your "whole armor of God."
If it happens that no one verse seems quite right, feel free to use this one. It was my first...
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1) kjv
Listen!
That metallic "ping" you just heard was sin bouncing off your brand new armor!
Showing posts with label narrow path. Show all posts
Showing posts with label narrow path. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Keep OFF the Beaten Path!
Time to go to work… hop into the car and go! Shopping with the kids… into the SUV and away we go! Planning a visit with the in-laws in the next town is no problem, thirty-five miles is an easy drive, right? Some new pants and a blouse or two is just a quick hop over to Stuff-Mart. Life goes on, same as always.
All our day-to-day traveling needs, regardless of destination, involve transit upon streets and highways. We are very comfortable with this arrangement, so comfortable, in fact, that we often feel we could travel these roadways blindfolded.
If it were not for these wonderful streets and freeways, we would have to blaze new paths every time we needed to go somewhere. It is much easier to follow the existing pathways, isn’t it?
Our spiritual lives are very much the same. Doing what God wants us to do, that which we know to be the right thing, involves our blazing new pathways. We have to ignore the smooth, easy, wide thoroughfare that already exists. Many times this easy roadway, the path of sin, is the one we have followed throughout our entire lives. Great or small, we have all sinned, further "improving" the way "that leads to destruction."
What does the Word have to say about this?
MATT 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." rsv
It is too easy to follow sin’s existing path. It is very hard to leave the trail behind and forge a new one where we’ve never gone before. In times of stress it is much easier to follow the familiar roadways.
So… where are we all going? And what are we doing in this hand basket?
I am as guilty as everyone else. Let your guard down just a bit, hard times, poor health, physical or mental pain, and guess what? Back to the old, familiar ways…
Fight the temptation to go the easy way! Get off the road! Search for the narrow path, the one that is difficult to travel. The reward is beyond measure!
See you soon, in Paradise!
All our day-to-day traveling needs, regardless of destination, involve transit upon streets and highways. We are very comfortable with this arrangement, so comfortable, in fact, that we often feel we could travel these roadways blindfolded.
If it were not for these wonderful streets and freeways, we would have to blaze new paths every time we needed to go somewhere. It is much easier to follow the existing pathways, isn’t it?
Our spiritual lives are very much the same. Doing what God wants us to do, that which we know to be the right thing, involves our blazing new pathways. We have to ignore the smooth, easy, wide thoroughfare that already exists. Many times this easy roadway, the path of sin, is the one we have followed throughout our entire lives. Great or small, we have all sinned, further "improving" the way "that leads to destruction."
What does the Word have to say about this?
MATT 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." rsv
It is too easy to follow sin’s existing path. It is very hard to leave the trail behind and forge a new one where we’ve never gone before. In times of stress it is much easier to follow the familiar roadways.
So… where are we all going? And what are we doing in this hand basket?
I am as guilty as everyone else. Let your guard down just a bit, hard times, poor health, physical or mental pain, and guess what? Back to the old, familiar ways…
Fight the temptation to go the easy way! Get off the road! Search for the narrow path, the one that is difficult to travel. The reward is beyond measure!
See you soon, in Paradise!
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