• Little Susie was getting dressed for a very important birthday party. Looking at the beautifully wrapped present on the table, she asked, "Mommy, when is my birthday? You know, I want to get a lot of nice presents like this one for Jamie."
• "Your birthday is next month, on the 23rd," said her mother.
• "My goodness," said Susie, "I guess it's time for me to start being good so I'll get some nice presents!"
• "Being good" is not always easy. There are times when the choice is difficult, the lines between right and wrong are "blurred" or we choose to say we are in a "grey" area. Could it be that "being good" is easy but not simple? Could it be that we want to complicate things so we can excuse our wrong doings? Remember the comedian who often said, "The devil made me do it?" Was he right? Are they good excuses or sound reasons?
• Paul wrote, "I do the very things I hate…because of my sinful nature!" Our "sinful nature" is stronger than we are, but cannot equal the power of God that is available to the Christian through Christ. We must always remember that. He defeated Satan once and for all and freed us from the power of sin.
• Without the enabling power of Christ, sin will triumph and dominate our lives. But if we remain in Him and look to Him for His help and strength, we will be victorious over sin and be more than conquerors thru Christ!
• Prayer: Help us, Lord, to be willing and able to overcome sin in our lives through the power of Christ. Forgive us when we do not call upon You for strength. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
• Scripture for Today: Romans 7:15-8:1 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (Read more...)
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