45: 50 Days of 3:16

We have an ingrained sense of what is right and wrong. Our upbringing will shape that to some extent allowing us to mould our moral compass. Our original programmed moral code is given to us by the creator. We tend to self-program ourselves to agree with some things because it makes sense to us. A little lie cannot hurt. Stealing from them shouldn’t matter, do you know what they have done and who they are stealing from, they have lots of money and no one will notice. God created the human form so why shouldn’t I be able to gaze at it in all its beauty whenever I want however I want in the privacy of my own home. Blurring the lines of what is right and wrong sets us up for all kinds of trouble.

 

Keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1 Peter 3:16

 

We are living in a society where the moral compass of right and wrong might as well be broken. Some of the foundational facts are inherently followed, you ask anyone if murder is acceptable they will quickly correct you and tell you, of course, it is wrong. Then ask them their thoughts on abortion and you may hear them tell a different story. Or ask them their thoughts on those who prey on children or vulnerable woman. Some quickly change their tune and condone the destruction of these people.

 

As believers in Christ, we need to be better at following the moral compass that God has provided us. We do not need to be programmed robots, but we need to know right from wrong. How we live our lives outside of church needs to reflect our lives as a believer. We cannot be seen as one who speaks out of both sides of their mouth, saying they believe one thing but acting out another. What we do in secret will not always remain a secret. We will be tempted to do things, that is inevitable, we may even step into the temptation, but as a believer, we see our mistake, take a step back ask for forgiveness and walk away from it. When we choose to stay in the temptation that will lead us into all sorts of trouble.

 

Is your life focused on doing good things for God? Works do not get us to heaven and we do not need to do good works to be accepted into heaven. Jesus paid the cost for that and when we accept what he has done that is all the payment needed to be welcomed into heaven. We are to do good works because of what he has done for us. We have been called to share this faith with others. If we keep ourselves doing good work, other then being lazy, we will keep ourselves from doing things that lead us into sin. Idle hands tend to wander into places that tempt us to do things we shouldn’t. We see this in the children/teenage years, those kids who have activities to do tend, for the most part, keep busy and get into less mischief. Keep busy doing God’s work, not just to keep busy but to grow the kingdom of God.

 

Father, what in my life is keeping me distracted from doing the work you have called to do? Forgive me for the distractions I have allowed, the temptations I have dipped my hand in. I want to follow you with everything so forgive me for my weak ways. Strengthen me to withstand the temptations that are sent my way, Holy Spirit show me ways out and guard my heart from evil. Let those who wish to slander me realize that their words are not true and that the God I follow is the God who is calling out to them. Use me to reach the world around me. Give me boldness to be effective in all I do. Amen

34: Freed

In our journey in freedom, we will be tempted to return to the place we have been. There will be moments where it feels like we cannot endure what is happening to us. Many will feel alone in their situation not reaching out to anyone else and keep their struggle to themselves. When we do this, we lock ourselves in our own prison. We were never meant to do this alone.

 

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

To think that what your going through is unique and unlike anything else anyone has struggled with is a lie from the enemy. He wants you to dwell on it so much that you get in a deep depression becoming ineffective to fulfil the mission. There are those in the church who show up but haven’t shown up in years. They believe if the people knew what they were going through they would be kicked out and shunned. No one understands what they are going through, yet they remain in hopes that one day the problem will just go away.

 

This is a roadblock we put in our own way that keeps us from experience what God has for us. We need to open up to ourselves and others. When we freely let what is happening to us out and share it with others who follow the same God we can experience a freedom from our pain. Only then can we see that we are not the only one who has experienced this, the weight that has been on our shoulders will be lifted and we can begin to experience freedom.

 

God promises that we can overcome temptation. He promises that He is faithful. We can trust that God’s promises are true. I strong way to endure temptation is to partner with other believers. They will stand by us and help us as they have experienced many of the same things we are going through.

 

Father, thank you for your promise that we can overcome the temptations that come our way. For those struggling with revealing their sins and asking for help, I pray that they overcome this fear and put their trust in you. Help us to fulfil the mission of reaching the lost, let them see that there is hope in you. Let our community of believers be an example of your love for us. Amen