ARE YOU KILLING SIN IN YOUR LIFE?
Romans 8:13 "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
"Be killing sin or it will be killing you." John Owen (17th century)
I think I am the last Christian in America to see the movie Fireproof. I kept putting it off mainly because most "christian" movies (except for the Narnia movies) are poorly produced, the acting is left wanting and if truth be told are rather cheesy. But... I found myself with nothing in particular to do last Friday night so I decided to rent it and watch it.
I was half right... the movie was poorly acted except for Kirk Cameron.. he's a good actor AND the movie was indeed "cheesy." BUT! God used this movie to speak to my heart about sin.
I'm referring to one scene in particular. The main character played by Kirk Cameron had an addiction to pornography. This was one of the many ways that contributed to his falling apart marriage. The movie was not centered on this particular issue but was one of many ways that he was not honoring his wife.
At one point, this main character turned to Jesus Christ in faith and repentance and the viewers of this movie are privy to the transformation of this man and the transformation of his marriage. He was truly a new creation!
One of the areas of change that the movie depicted was how he dealt with his addiction to pornography. It wasn't a very long scene, but full of biblical truth.
One day this man was sitting in front of the computer and we could see his temptation to view porn. We watched his struggle ... finally, in anger, he took his computer outside and beat the bejabbers out of it with a baseball bat! He got rid of one of the primary means by which he was tempted to view porn.
As I watched that scene I actually got teary eyed for it was a visual example of how we should KILL remaining sin that continues in our lives! Of course, the computer wasn't the sin but it was a symbol of the sin, the means by which he sinned. As he was beating that computer into smithereens all I could think of was, "He is killing sin before it kills him. He is taking DRASTIC measures to not sin in this manner!"
It got me to thinking... am I that drastic in killing sin? How do I handle those times of frustration, annoyance, selfishness, gossip? Do I just slap my own hand and give it a moment of "I shouldn't do that?" or do I go to the Lord and beg Him for the grace and strength to resist these "little" sins? Do I BATTLE these sins or do I just accept them as "just the way I am?" Do I give into that kind of behavior? DO I BATTLE these things?
John Owen, our long gone brother in Christ was very clear when he spoke about what God's Word says. If we don't kill sin it WILL kill us. Oh yes.. praise the Lord for God's great mercies and grace. I would indeed perish without His saving grace.. but... since I belong to God through Faith in Jesus Christ shouldn't I have increasing hate toward my sin? Shouldn't I be taking a baseball bat to my sin? Indeed, I should!
Oh Lord, may you give me the strength to be serious about killing remaining sin in my life! Thank you that your mercies are new every morning! Thank you for the grace and steadfast love that you give to us. Help me to hate my sin as you do! Give to me the desire and the strength to kill sin! Help me to be an obedient child. In Jesus Name.. amen.
PS... was the movie "cheesy?" Yes! But worth every cheesy moment!!! Watch it!
"Be killing sin or it will be killing you." John Owen (17th century)
I think I am the last Christian in America to see the movie Fireproof. I kept putting it off mainly because most "christian" movies (except for the Narnia movies) are poorly produced, the acting is left wanting and if truth be told are rather cheesy. But... I found myself with nothing in particular to do last Friday night so I decided to rent it and watch it.
I was half right... the movie was poorly acted except for Kirk Cameron.. he's a good actor AND the movie was indeed "cheesy." BUT! God used this movie to speak to my heart about sin.
I'm referring to one scene in particular. The main character played by Kirk Cameron had an addiction to pornography. This was one of the many ways that contributed to his falling apart marriage. The movie was not centered on this particular issue but was one of many ways that he was not honoring his wife.
At one point, this main character turned to Jesus Christ in faith and repentance and the viewers of this movie are privy to the transformation of this man and the transformation of his marriage. He was truly a new creation!
One of the areas of change that the movie depicted was how he dealt with his addiction to pornography. It wasn't a very long scene, but full of biblical truth.
One day this man was sitting in front of the computer and we could see his temptation to view porn. We watched his struggle ... finally, in anger, he took his computer outside and beat the bejabbers out of it with a baseball bat! He got rid of one of the primary means by which he was tempted to view porn.
As I watched that scene I actually got teary eyed for it was a visual example of how we should KILL remaining sin that continues in our lives! Of course, the computer wasn't the sin but it was a symbol of the sin, the means by which he sinned. As he was beating that computer into smithereens all I could think of was, "He is killing sin before it kills him. He is taking DRASTIC measures to not sin in this manner!"
It got me to thinking... am I that drastic in killing sin? How do I handle those times of frustration, annoyance, selfishness, gossip? Do I just slap my own hand and give it a moment of "I shouldn't do that?" or do I go to the Lord and beg Him for the grace and strength to resist these "little" sins? Do I BATTLE these sins or do I just accept them as "just the way I am?" Do I give into that kind of behavior? DO I BATTLE these things?
John Owen, our long gone brother in Christ was very clear when he spoke about what God's Word says. If we don't kill sin it WILL kill us. Oh yes.. praise the Lord for God's great mercies and grace. I would indeed perish without His saving grace.. but... since I belong to God through Faith in Jesus Christ shouldn't I have increasing hate toward my sin? Shouldn't I be taking a baseball bat to my sin? Indeed, I should!
Oh Lord, may you give me the strength to be serious about killing remaining sin in my life! Thank you that your mercies are new every morning! Thank you for the grace and steadfast love that you give to us. Help me to hate my sin as you do! Give to me the desire and the strength to kill sin! Help me to be an obedient child. In Jesus Name.. amen.
PS... was the movie "cheesy?" Yes! But worth every cheesy moment!!! Watch it!
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1 comment:
Great thoughts, Diane!!!!!
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