Is there a certain sin that seems to have a foothold in your life? And does it almost seem as though the sin is getting more and more powerful each month, each year, and tragically, each decade? Do you wonder if you ever will gain victory over it? Or worse, are you beginning to wonder if you are really a Christian? Sin is a horrible master, and it finds a willing servant in the human body. Sin wants to dominate you, but the good news is that as a Christian, you don't have to be dominated by sin any longer. The Bible says, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6 NIV). There is a part of us that is drawn to the holy things of God, and there is a part of us that can still be drawn to the unholy things of this world. We all have that struggle. It is almost shocking, especially if you have been a believer for many years, that there still can be an attraction to sinful things. Here is what we need to remember: We will never get to a point where we are temptation-proof. But I do think we can get to a point where sin will not be so alluring. It comes with growing deeply in our faith, learning more about Jesus, and being so enraptured with His love that we see this world for what it is. I think the classic hymn says it well: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." To overcome sin, we need to know, we need to reckon, and we need to yield. Romans 6:11 says, "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NKJV). To know has to do with the mind, and it is implied in the phrase, "likewise you also." These three words refer back to the truths in Romans 6:1–10. The apostle Paul laid the groundwork, showing us that we are no longer under the jurisdiction of sin, and it no longer has a rightful claim over our lives as children of God. For Christians to live out the fullness of their new lives in Christ, they must realize what God has done for them. We are not merely remodeled sinners; we are remade saints. To reckon focuses on the heart. The word "reckon" used in Romans 6:11 means "to take into account," or "to count as true." Reckoning is not acting as if it were so; it is acting because it is so. Reckoning is not claiming a promise as much as it is acting on a fact. God does not command us to be dead to sin. Rather, He tells us that we are dead to sin and alive to God. Then He commands us to act on it. And even if we don’t act on it, it is still true. To yield deals primarily with the will. Romans 6:13 tells us, "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (NKJV). The word "present" means, "to give into." God is saying, "Yield to Me. Present yourself to Me." Each and every day, we are to present ourselves to God. Think of those in the Bible who presented their lives and their bodies to God and how powerfully they were used. For example, a sling in David's hand defeated the Philistines. Paul's dedicated feet took him from city to city to proclaim the gospel. John's eyes saw visions of the future, his ears heard God's message, and his fingers wrote it all down in the Book of Revelation. It is your choice to what and to whom you are going to yield yourself. And it is an intelligent decision to base your actions on what God has said in His Word. You have more than enough power to live this Christian life. You have the righteousness purchased by Christ with His own blood. So start taking hold of what God has already given you. Live in the newness of life for which Jesus gave His own.  Read less

How do you get peace in a really bad situation? You may be in the fight of your life financially and about to lose your home. It may be that you've been diagnosed with lung cancer as my father-in-law was. It may be that your marriage is falling apart. You fill in the blank. We're either headed into a crisis, in the midst of one, or coming out of one. Now, coming out of one is great. We can see what God was up to in part, and we get a measure of peace from that. But how can we get peace if we're headed into or in the midst of a crisis? God tells us how to do just that in Phil. 4:4-9. The first thing you have to do is focus on God instead of your situation. That's easier said than done, but that's what Paul means when he says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice" (v. 4). He's not saying that we're happy about what we're going through; he's not even saying to rejoice in our difficulties. He's saying rejoice in the Lord, and that's something altogether different. Biblical joy is the knowledge that God is in control of your circumstances and allows only that which is good for you into your life (Rom. 8:28). That's why James says to consider it joy when a trial comes your way (Jas. 1:2). It's not that the trial brings joy; it's what God is doing for us through the trial; His good work is coming into our lives. Because we know that, we consider the trial joy; we rest in the Lord. In essence, we worship Him. That's what Job did when he lost his possessions and his family; he said, "Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). The morning my father died was sad; not only were we very close, but it pained me to see my mother suffer as well. At the same time, we knew that God was involved in every detail and was doing a good thing in our lives through our hurt. As we focused on that, we were able to worship, find joy, and tell others about the goodness of God and the good times we had with my dad. A couple of deacons from the church arrived within an hour of his passing. As they came into the room, we were laughing about some story as we'd been reminiscing, and one of them made the comment, "Somehow I knew there would be joy in this house today." Again, it's not that we were happy about my father's death. But we forced ourselves to focus on God and in so doing we found joy. But that's only the beginning; we can't stop there because Satan and the flesh have a way of coming back to bite us. From our focus on God, we have to literally engage in serving others. Paul says, "Let your gentleness be known to all men; the Lord is at hand" (v. 5). As you rejoice in God, that should move you to then focus on others. Let your gentleness, kindness, patience, and heart be known to others. How can you do that? Paul says the Lord is at hand; God is near and will help you. And it's not just that God wants you to serve others in the midst of your trouble. It's that He knows our weakness. Our tendency will be to focus on ourselves and spiral down into despair. But if we focus on others, we'll be distracted and not have time to spiral down. More than that, we'll derive a certain joy in serving others before the Lord. The morning my father died, a man's car broke down in front of our house. He was taking his daughter to school, and the car just quit on him. I saw him, went out to help, and gave them a lift to school so the little girl wouldn't be late. The man and I came back to check on the car. While we were doing that, I remember looking over as the funeral home folks were carrying my father out of the house and thinking, "That's just like the Lord to be kind enough to get my focus on someone else. Thank you Lord." Now, that's well and good. But what happens when we're alone or when it's time to go to bed? We have to give our trouble to God through prayer. I remember tossing and turning one night as my mom was to have open heart surgery the next day. I couldn't get any peace. I did remember God's Word though: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (v. 6). Well, that's what I was doing; I was praying over and over again but I still couldn't get any peace or sleep! And then I realized; I was praying like the pagans do (Matt. 6:7-8). I was worried if I didn't say just the right thing, mention every possible problem, or pray with just the right attitude, that God wouldn't hear my prayers. When I realized what I was doing, I simply gave it to the Lord. That's why He says to pray; He means for us to tell Him what's burdening our hearts and give it to Him so we can rest. He gives us permission (and commands us even) to stop thinking about our problems and let Him deal with them. When we do that, He gives us the peace. When I did that, I went right to sleep. If we pray and leave our burden with God, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (v. 7). God's peace, like a Roman soldier, will guard our hearts and minds so that no troubling thing plagues us. It doesn't work! That's what we say when we're filled with worry, fear, or despair. The truth is we can't take any one of these things without the other. Each of the things we're talking about forms a whole. God is telling us what to do in the midst of a troubling state of affairs. He's telling us to focus on Him and others; to think about Him, to pray to Him, and to think about Him again. It's not enough to pray. Once we pray, Paul says we're to force ourselves to think about the things of God and not what's bothering us. It's not easy; that's why it's called a battle. But the way we fight is to change what we're thinking about. You might say certain thoughts plague you because you're in a longterm dilemma that seems never ending. Yes, but you don't have to dwell on the difficulties. Reorient the focus of your thoughts. Paul says, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things" (v. 8). Take it one step further. The more you meditate on the things of God, as Paul says, the more you'll know God and His ways. You'll know that He is indeed working these things for good in your life. You know that "the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11). But there's one more thing. You've moved your focus from your troubles to God and others. Paul says now to make sure you keep doing that. Keep doing the things God has told you to do. "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you" (v. 9). If you do what God is teaching you to do, you'll have peace. And don't overlook the nuance of what Paul says here. Earlier, he said that the peace of God will guard your heart. That's true; that's what we want. But here he says the God of peace will be with you. That's even better! You get peace because you have the God of peace walking with you through the fire. Jesus was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and He'll be with you in your fiery furnace as well (Dan. 3:25). They were at peace even though they didn't know whether God would actually keep them alive or not (Dan. 3:17-18). All they knew was that God was with them and would see them through one way or the other. And that's what you need to realize; God is with you and will see you through one way or the other. And that's not resignation or defeatist. That's confidence. God has a plan for you and it's good. You walk with Him because He's walking with you. That's how you get peace in a really bad situation.  Read less

In the morning we determine to keep our voices at a reasonable decibel level the entire day. But by 9:30 a.m. we’re already hollering at the kids. At midday we covenant to be patient, but only thirty minutes later we’re snapping at people around us in traffic and stomping on the gas pedal. We desperately want to be kind, but sometimes we just forget how! Where do we go to get kindness? To the King of kindness! If we want to be kind to others, we need to begin by accepting the King’s kindness for ourselves. Until we’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s pretty tough to extend kindness to others. It’s the kindness of God that draws us out of our tainted world into a relationship with him. That’s what Paul is writing about in Titus 3:3–4. God expresses his kindness in the gift of his Son Jesus, who died for our sins so that we might be restored to a relationship with him. When we feel like failures at kindness, our only hope is to seek help from the King of kindness.  Read less

The surgeon, who makes a wound even more painful by probing and opening it, does so to let out the matter and make way for his medicine. Then he lays on the plaster, and binds it up. So God causes grief and puts his people to pain, by diseases of body, or by making breaches in their families and estates, by other cutting providences. Then he binds up their breach, and heals the stroke of their wound, and in the issue makes all whole again. So it is in spiritual things - by the sharp, two-edged sword of the Word, he cuts and wounds, and gives pain and uneasiness. His Spirit lays open all the corruption of nature, and brings to repentance and humiliation for all transgressions; and then pours in the oil and wine of pardoning grace and mercy, and binds up the wounds that are made. He shatters, but his hands heal The same thing is meant as above, expressed by different words. The whole suggests that every afflicted man, and particularly Job, should he behave well, and as he ought, under the afflicting hand of God, would be healed, and become sound and whole again, in body, mind, family, and estate. For, though God for the present caused grief, yet he would have compassion, since he did not willingly grieve the children of men. He did not do it for his own pleasure, but for their good, as a skillful surgeon cuts and wounds in order to heal. See Deuteronomy 32:39, Hosea 6:1, Lamentations 3:32, and Lamentations 3:33.  Read less

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 (NIV) Isn’t salvation about my past sins and my future in heaven? What does God’s grace mean for me today? Sin brings with it two long-term consequences — a penalty against us, and a power within us. God saves us from the penalty and the power. I want to introduce you to three characters to help you understand how He does this. Their names are Hostile, Helpless and Hopeful. Which one do you identify with most? Hostile: Without desire or ability “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Romans 8:7 (NIV) Hostile has no desire to follow God’s law. Even if he had the desire, which he doesn’t, he does not have the ability. You will meet Hostile all throughout the Bible story: In Cain’s hostility toward God, he became angry and killed Abel (Genesis 4:8). But Pharaoh’s hostility was more subtle. When God said “Let my people go” (Exodus 5:1), he just dug in his heels. Hostile’s greatest day was when Jesus was brought before the crowd, and they shouted “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22-23). Helpless: Desire without ability “I see another law at work…waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin…” Romans 7:23 (NIV) The difference between Helpless and Hostile is that, while Hostile hates God’s law, Helpless loves it: “In my inner being, I delight in God’s law…” (v22), “I agree that the law is good…” (v16). Hostile would never say these things. He hates God’s law. Helpless knows God’s law is good. He wants to do it, but he doesn’t have the ability. He’s a prisoner in chains, unable to get free. He feels miserable “What a wretched man I am!” and cries out “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (v24). Hopeful: Desire with ability “Through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2 (NIV) Like Helpless, Hopeful has the desire to live a godly life. The difference lies in their abilities. Paul tells Hopeful to “Put to death the misdeeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). Helpless would just say “I’m a prisoner! I can’t overcome this enemy.” Hopeful is in an entirely different position! He has the desire to fight against sin in his life, but he also has the ability to prevail. Notice that they face the same battle. Hopeful still feels the power of temptation, and he still has failures. But Hopeful’s ability to prevail comes from the Spirit of God who lives in Him. What God says to you today To Hostile, God says that He “demonstrated his love for us in this: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ went to the cross so that those who were once enemies of God could become His friends. God loves you, so repent! Notice the answer God gives when Helpless asks “Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25). Christ will rescue you! The Christian life is about the power of God living in you. Ask and you’ll receive. Your heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. What does God say to Hopeful? “Put to death the misdeeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). The Spirit is in you! So, fight! When you fail, your enemy comes to you saying “You’re so weak. You were never any good. You’re my prisoner.” The only way to answer him is with the truth, and when you know the truth, it will set you free!  Read less

At Issue - Selfishness Verse: 2 Chronicles 1:7–12 Rub the magic bottle, and the genie’s willing to grant your one wish. Do you ask for fame and fortune? Beauty and health? If you’re a new mom, maybe you’d simply be happy to get a full night’s sleep, finish a meal and take a shower—all in the same day. When God made this wild offer to Solomon, the king could have asked for all kinds of favors for himself. But he didn’t. He knew that life isn’t about looking out for yourself; it’s about loving God and serving others. If you focus on those two things, then you can trust that God will give you what you need.  Read less