Aug 12, 2018
We take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2Cor 10:5
Victory over sin
starts by training our mind to think like Jesus.
Moving to California created some changes that we did not
expect, including the installation of a home security system. It was not something we had need for in Ohio
where we lived, and certainly not something we had developed a lifestyle
pattern for.
That’s why for several months, I periodically forgot that
opening the back door instantly triggered the break-in alarm sound. I would come downstairs in the morning and
open the back door to let some cool air in before deactivating the alarm. The sound instantly woke up everyone in the
house (and probably the neighborhood).
The interesting thing to me was that our FRONT DOOR was set to give us
30 seconds to deactivate the alarm, but the back door was instant! In time, I learned not to open the back door
at all, but just open windows or the front door for letting in the breeze.
When it comes to temptation, Jesus wants to be the one who
opens the front door for whatever comes knocking. Unfortunately, temptation tends to visit us
at our back porch! Wouldn’t it be great
if we all had a SPIRITUAL ALARM SYSTEM that goes off every time we try to open
the back door and let temptation in!
(Not sure the rest of the people around us would like it, but it would
help!)
THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS – send all temptation around to
the front door and let Jesus answer it first.
That’s what Paul is telling the Corinthian church. If we make Jesus the filter for every
decision or idea, we have a much better shot at protecting ourselves and living
a victorious life. Make every so-called
opportunity go through the Jesus test of obedience, or don’t let it in the
front door!
So before you accept an invitation to something that seems
questionable, run it by Jesus.
Before exposing your eyes to something on the screen, bring
Jesus in to look.
Before pursuing a career move, deciding who to date, accepting
that gift, agreeing with an argument, ask Jesus what He thinks.
Make everything go through the front door of your mind and
pass through Jesus to get to you. It’s
the only way to keep sin from entering the home of your heart, and the best way
to avoid setting off the spiritual alarm system. J
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