God has given us the single most important message in the world. Since we’re confronted by so many incorrect philosophies and deceptive beliefs, we need to understand the gospel and how to present it to others with boldness. We can’t let fear and ignorance keep us from giving lost people the only message that can change their eternal destinies.
If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we still enjoy the sin we repeatedly confess. What benefits are you deriving from your sin? What does God say about it in His Word? How would freedom from that area of bondage improve your life and your relationship with the Lord?
Disappointments and pain are inevitable here on this earth, but we can always choose how we respond to them. We can blame others, turn to drugs and alcohol for relief, and just give up in frustration. Or we can respond in the right way and view our trials from God’s perspective. This helps us realize our difficulties are opportunities for spiritual growth. We know that life will not always be easy, but because we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, He will always see us through.
Have you suffered a deep hurt that is still affecting you to this day? How have you dealt with it thus far? How has rehearsing the wrong in your mind affected your pain? If you’ve adopted the sinful attitudes described in Ephesians 4:31, how have they damaged your life, relationships with others, and with God? What’s stopping you from forgiving?
Do you accept things today as normal, or can you clearly see how corrupt the culture has become? How has it changed during your lifetime? What effect does the media have on your thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and practices? How much does it occupy your time and focus compared with the Word of God?
God has spoken very clearly in His Word regarding His will for our lives In addition, He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us discern what He desires and to enable us to obey Him. However, we must each decide whether we are going to follow Him or go our own way.
We live in a world that’s being persuaded there are no absolute moral truths. Because there are no standards, our society has become ungodly, immoral, unsafe, and worthy of God’s judgment. It’s time we turn from this dangerous situation and stand firmly, without compromise, for our biblical beliefs.