Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, May 4, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-05-04-2018

This is devotional thought number 18 in our devotional series titled, “The Gospel According to Paul.”

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14).

I can remember watching a popular syndicated television show episode many years ago about an alcoholic mother who wanted help with her drinking problem. She was a single mom who started drinking beer as early as ten o'clock in the morning. She said that her skin would begin to crawl at some point in the day, and the only way to calm it was to have a drink. She would drink in another room while her children were bathing. She drank in order to motivate herself to spend quality time with them in the park. Her situation is so sad, and unfortunately all too familiar to countless numbers of people. The besetting sin may not be drinking in every case, but many do resort to some compulsion in order to relieve stress or instill a false sense of well-being.

One of the saddest things about compulsive behaviors is that they are a counterfeit for what those who have them really need. One man said that we all are born with a God-shaped space in our lives, and we often use other things in an attempt to fill the void.

How do we get to the point where we no longer try to fulfill our need for God with counterfeits that always leave us in a worse state than when we first began? People always look for the quick fix, but there is none. The road to overcoming is a long and arduous one, but we are not alone. The Lord is able to keep us from falling in this present world. True enough, we may need professional guidance at times, but the Scriptures are true even in those cases: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14). I must encourage myself with these words when I am tempted to replace God with some behaviour that does not please Him.

One of the things that has helped me tremendously to be victorious, knowing that God is all-powerful, is exerting my God-given decision-making power. Let us just say for example, that I am tempted on a regular basis to smoke tobacco knowing that it deteriorates the temple that God has entrusted me with, it would be well for me to avoid situations where I would have to encounter smoking. It is also better to pray for victory while separating myself from environments where the temptations are prevalent. At no time, should I presume upon the mercy of God, and have just a little smoke. No! We are not to make provision to sin while seeking to be victorious. Whatever our particular pet sins are, we should surrender them to the Lord and trust Him for the power to overcome. Certainly, all of this is hard work, and we may need help from someone, but the point remains, the Lord is able and willing to keep us from falling. Pray today that you will not be satisfied with counterfeit pleasure in place of a genuine relationship with God. The time is now; right now. Our God is well able to preserve that which we dedicate to Him, until Jesus comes. Why not give your life to Him?

I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, are you?.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)