Choose Neither

Choose Neither

British clergyman Charles Spurgeon once invited famed evangelist D. L. Moody to preach at a revival. Moody preached on the evil of smoking. When Moody, who was an overeater, finished his sermon, Spurgeon commented, “I’ll give up my cigars when you give up your fork.”

Each man had his own pet sin. Both the smoker and the overeater discounted the following words from 1st Corinthians: Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

Discounting the Scriptures that put limits on things we enjoy is probably the number one way we mess up our lives. No question about it, I would have done far better if I had spent more time understanding God’s Word and less time trying to figure out ways around it.

1st John 1:10 (NLT) warns us, If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. Now, I believe God’s Word has a prominent place in my heart. Nevertheless, it seems I can’t make it through a day without being tempted. The apostle Paul’s words in the 7th chapter of Romans help me understand I am not the only one who struggles.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)

If the apostle Paul had trouble controlling his impulses, it’s understandable that we have trouble controlling ours. Alone, we can’t, but, as we read in the 8th chapter of Romans, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. Romans 8:5

And we know from Galatians, the things that please the Spirit are brought to life in the fruit of the Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23

There it is at the end of the list: self-control. Yes, we are tempted every day, but 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

And when we sin—and we all sin—if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. We can trust God. He does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrongs we have done.
1 John 1:9 (ICB)

Moody and Spurgeon had their pet sins, and so do we. That should help us remember when we encounter others whose pet sins differ from our own, that we are meant to let our light shine before others, not just bring the heat.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)

Blessings,
Don & Bonnie Sennott
Authors of Your Heart is an Open Book: Finding Answers in God’s Word
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