Thought for Friday, October 19th

October 19, 2012

Breaking the Sin Habit

“Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.”

-       St. Augustine

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 1:14-15

  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 7:18-20

The trouble with sin is that we enjoy it, most of the time.  And it is true that sin is pleasurable for a season.  But when the curtain falls on our sinfulness, usually the after party is not so much fun.  

Sin is also like any bad habit: the more you do it the easier it is to continue doing it and once you get caught up in it: it becomes a much harder habit to break.

And sometimes it seems, just like Paul, we don’t want to be bad or do bad things; but it seems we just come by it naturally, so to speak, and we do it in spite of ourselves.

It seems that from the beginning of time, when Adam and Eve roamed the Garden there has been a predisposition within the make-up of humanity towards disobedience.  And isn’t sin; simply defined; disobedience against God?

So in order to become more like Jesus and to be more pleasing towards God, we need to break this cycle, conquer this habit and overcome the sin nature by allowing God’s righteousness to be manifested in us.

This must be why Paul referred to the need to daily crucify the flesh.  It seems we are in perpetual need of conquering our desire to sin and continually in need of God’s help to keep our steps on the path of His righteousness.

Sin is indeed a bad habit and if we do not take the steps to break its influences and control it will soon become a lifestyle.

So are you ready to get to work: breaking the habit of sin and allowing God’s presence within you to have control?  

Today’s Prayer

Father, your word encourages me to resist the devil and it promises that if I do he will flee: may I be bold and courageous in both resisting him and in breaking the habits of sin I have already allowed him to tempt me into.

“Purify my heart

Let me be as gold

And precious silver

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Refiner’s fire

My hearts one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You my Master

Ready to do your will.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Refiner’s Fire’ by Brian Doerksen