Next, you need to follow Jesus’ instructions. He said that if there is something which is leading you into sin, you need to cut it out of your life. We read in Hebrews 12:1: “… let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Many people struggle with giving in to particular sins because they are not ready to do what needs to be done to cut it out of their lives. So, they tempt fate, so to speak.
For instance, if someone struggles with lust, but they watch TV shows and movies with even a hint of sensuality, they are feeding that sin in their minds. If they watch TV shows and movies with extra-marital affairs, or with sexual situations between people who are not married to each other, or even with light flirtations in them, they are feeding that sin in their minds. It is difficult, even, to go to any internet site these days which does not have some half-naked person off to the side or down at the bottom of the screen. Social media sites and news sites are particularly bad for this. We have to practice the Word of God in this in setting our minds on things above, not on things of this earth, and practice thinking about what is good, lovely, pure, etc. but we can only do this if we are guarding our hearts and minds against what is evil, and if we are taking into our minds what is pure and holy.
So, you have to get radical about sin. Do you have a smart phone, tablet (I-Pad) and/or a personal computer? Then, you have private internet access. Private internet access has been the downfall of many people because, for one, you can get just about everything on the internet, and two, you can do it in the privacy of your own home or car without anyone knowing, and that is dangerous. Jesus said it is better to cut out an eye than for our whole body to burn in hell. It is better to get rid of these things which may be leading us into sin if they are our downfall. Computers and smart phones, in themselves, are not sinful, but what we do with them may be, though. If we play with fire, we will get burned. We have to be willing to cut out of our lives what is leading us into sin if it comes down to that or continuing in sin. It may not come to that, but if it does, we need to make the tough choices, which are the right choices, to get these things out of our lives for good.
Then, we need to be filling our minds with the things of God – with the Word of God, in prayer, and with music lyrics which honor and glorify God, etc. And, we need to be obeying the Lord and his Word, and do what he has called us to do. If you are married, you need to pursue your spouse like you did, perhaps, when you were dating. Focus your mind and attention on her, but look to the Lord to meet the needs of your heart. Put off lust, and put on love. Put off pornography, and put on love and what is pure, righteous and holy. Daily put on the armor of God with which to fight off Satan’s temptations. Say “NO” to sin. Resist the devil, and flee temptation. Too many people are playing with temptation and are not fleeing (running away), and that is why they are still struggling.
Lastly, many people are in this sin, not sin, sin, not sin, vicious cycle of on again, off again with sinful habits because they don’t truly understand or don’t really believe what Jesus did for us on the cross. When he died and was resurrected, he put sin to death, and he defeated Satan. We don’t ever have to give in to any willful sin. We can say “No” in the power of what Jesus did for us on the cross. It is not a question of who is going to win this battle, because Jesus already won. Satan is already defeated. He’s just not been removed yet. We already have all we need in Christ to stand strong against sin, to resist Satan, to flee temptation, and to draw near to God. We just have to exercise what we already have.
Sincerely, Sue J Love
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Luke 7:47
