Our Daily Bread Archive
 
< November 2003 >
S M T W T F S
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 2021 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 1 2 3 4 5 6
Online Offer
Is This All There Is To Life
Our Daily Bread
Print
Send to a Friend
RSS
Increase Font Size Decrease Font Size
TEXT SIZE:
TOOLS:
November 20, 2003
Take Action!
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. —Matthew 5:29

Shameful behavior is being displayed in magazines, movies, and on television. Immorality is even joked about. The world is seeking to convince everyone that nothing is sinful anymore. So we must be on guard against any compromise in our hearts.

While I was in the military, I realized that I was becoming unmoved by the obscene words and conduct of some of my fellow soldiers. When I recognized what was happening, I asked the Lord to restore my sensitivity to the grievous nature of sin.

A permissive attitude toward evil will lead us to fall into sin. That's why we are to deal radically with every form of wickedness.

Jesus went so far as to say that we should pluck out our eye if it causes us to sin (Matthew 5:29). He didn't mean we should maim our bodies, but rather we are to take strong action when tempted to sin. Books, magazines, or video images that arouse wrong desires must be deliberately avoided. This is also what Paul had in mind when he said we are to "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13). Someone who is indifferent to the sin around him or trifles with it in his own life is in grave danger.

We cannot ignore the seriousness of this issue. It's time to take action!  — Herbert Vander Lugt

Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul,
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole. —Wesley

To avoid being tempted by forbidden fruit, stay away from the devil's orchard.


For similar resources, search these topics:

Bible in One Year: Daniel 7–9; Proverbs 18:13-24
http://rbc.org/devotions.aspx?id=7232
© 2008 RBC MINISTRIES, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA.
Written permission must be obtained from RBC Ministries for any further posting or distribution.