| | Hey there, child of the King!
Here’s a sobering thought about sin. Think of your biggest regrets that you have in your life . . . the event/decision that you wish you had an eraser to wipe out. Most likely, sin was involved there. Most likely you stepped outside of what God wanted for you and sin killed you in some way. Yeah. Sin is no good. No good at all.
Soooo . . . let’s roundkick sin in the face, sucker punch it in the gut, and give it a noogie. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, sin has no place here.
Have a great week, child of the King!
Laurin
Here’s this week’s devo:
Sin doesn’t always appear twisted or dark. In fact, it can deceptively seem like just the opposite.
[READ] Sin often looks appealing. That’s because Satan, also known as an angel of light, intentionally wraps sin in a pretty package.
Talking about someone with our friends may seem like harmless fun. We may think, “What they don’t know won’t hurt them.” But it does. Gossip can harm a person’s reputation, one of their most precious possessions. “What dainty morsels rumors are—but they sink deep into one’s heart” (Proverbs 18:8 NLT).
Speaking unkindly to someone—especially when we’re angry with them—can feel satisfying. But speaking hurtful words is like sticking a knife in someone’s soul. “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose” (Proverbs 18:21 MSG).
Sex and sexual acts outside of marriage may seem fun. But they cause distrust in relationships, put a barrier between us and God, and destroy our soul. “The man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul" (Proverbs 6:32 NLT). "Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT).
Pursuing money and possessions may seem like we’re moving up in the world, but it can shift our perspective from heavenly things, rob us of eternal treasures, and come between us and God. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13 NLT).
Like a fish chasing a shiny lure, Satan makes sin seem appealing, even though it’s deadly. And while sin seems fun, it actually steals life from us. Jesus said He came to give us life, but Satan’s intentions are sick and sinister. “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10 NLT).
[THINK] Think about your biggest regrets. Chances are you bought into what Satan was selling through sin, and it hurt you. You probably weren’t motivated by doing something wrong. You might’ve gossiped because you wanted to win the approval of others. You might’ve sinned sexually because you thought it would enhance a relationship. You might’ve started drinking to have fun. But the sin killed you. Or it killed a relationship. And it killed your connection with God. Our biggest regrets usually happen when we step outside of what God wants for us.
[LIVE] In the situations you regret the most, what did sin cost you? What did it steal from you? A relationship? Sexual purity? Confidence in yourself? What died in you? Your connection with God? Your trust in people?
Let the effects of sin cause you to hate it. Think of what you’ve lost and let it sicken you.
Hate sin. It is killing you. And be assured, God hates it too.
[NXT LVL] Jesus used some gory, grotesque words when He talked about sin because sin is sickening. Read Matthew 18:6-9.
For more devos like this, or to subscribe to YW Magazine, check out YW Magazine’s website: www.ywspace.org. |
| | Posted 10/26/2009 11:39 AM - 4 Views
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