Sin is the easiest topic to talk about, why because we all do it. None of us are perfect. Some live more holy lives then others. Yet we all yield to sin like yielding to a stop sign. We look at the stop sin wondering what if I did that. Especially when it about desires, and heart stirrings that are not always fruit to one’s life or life style pleasing to God. There are people that worship God but live like the devil for the other six days a week. Doing whatever it takes to get ahead in life or not. There those that go to the local bar and do exactly the same as the rich, yet the rich are drinking with their boss, or coworker only hoping to get ahead, while the poor is only hoping to drink away their troubles and enjoy the comfort of those like themselves. Those that choose a one night stand to get ahead sell there soul one piece at a time and those that have a one night stand only for the comfort of a stranger is selling their soul for a piece of love that does not last.

When one choose faith in Christ, they choose a love that last. A love that not going away in one night altar call. The backslider knows the call of God to come to him in his darkest hour of the night. He knows the call of God whispering come home, it will be alright. God whispering to just turn to him, knowing one’s sins are forgiven and the mercy of God. It is the wayward man and woman that receive Christ and believe that is searching for a solution to daily preservation of faith. They believe in God and Jesus, but have not learn yet to walk in the ways of God. Each of us must learn to walk in the ways of God away from the security of other believer’s. It nice to be able to have strong believers in front of you, but harder to live and work in place where not everyone is of your faith. There is a responsibility of the believer to be a witness despite one’s youthful begins of faith. Paul encourage young Timothy in a letter to set the example of faith follower of Christ. There been missionaries in recent years to go into the world having to make choices to set the example of faith. To be different then the crowd. To be different then the world in the way they sin, but not exempt from sin. Self righteous behavior leads to never understanding the ways of temptation. If we can not understand temptation we can not understand the need to wrestle against it. Put a piece of chocolate on the table, tell yourself not to take even a bite. Walk away from it leaving it behind and go on and do something else. Go back to the table sit awhile an push the candy bar away again. Eat a piece of fruit instead. Do this until bedtime. Now do you want this candy bar still, then eat it. If you can resist leave it. How long did it take before you ate the candy bar and say this experiment is stupid. Well sin is like that. Sin is before you and it looks good, sounds good, and might even taste good for a season. A cigarette to smoker taste good, but it is bad for you.

Young Timothy grew up in religious home. He knew what it was to walk the faith of God. He knew what was to set an example in the things he did in life and yet Paul is encouraging him to continue in faith. To continue in faith despite the temptations of this world. Over the years of my own rebellion I do not doubt I picked up a few habits in life that I need to continue to shovel out of my life. It is those things that can be hindrance in the way I walk and even share the gospel by the way I live. I think on these things I bring tears to my eyes when I can say Lord I failed once again at being a good example of faith. God word says you have an advocator/ lawyer in Christ Jesus. Jesus said while dying on the cross Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

I come to realize over the years that even with my failings that my inner peace of knowing Jesus request on the cross, of Father forgive them is enough to spur me on to try and do better. To try and live the example of faith once more. To watch my words one more day and my actions. To follow after Christ my Lord, not because it is in vogue, but because it is the way I should go especially if I desire to know God. As a believer we must learn to have purity in our life. Not to be naïve about the world, but live in purity of removal of sin and purging of sin from our life to live holy and blameless before others. Even when you feel you did nothing wrong, I can guarantee the world disagrees. To be like the world is to be like the world. To be in opposition of the world is to be not like them, world understands not why people conform not to their ways. God calls us to conform to His ways, to the ways of Christ to be a peculiar people called into a life style of purity and good works. God’s call is a lifestyle out of sin and darkness of this world, because His Son died for our sins.

Let the believer grab hold of the lifestyle of faith, despite our world leaders who do not always show the ways of God. Let us grab hold of lifestyle of faith and hope in Christ Jesus for He paid the price for our sin. Let our sin not to be to grab what looks good but what we know is good. Let us eat the fruit of faith and not the fruit of the fat of this world. Resist temptation the devil will flee from you. The desire of chocolate will pass away, but the flies and maggot of this world will continue to eat the rich chocolate of our world. Turn the maggots and flies over to their sin, God wrath is coming. You backsliders repent and taste what the Lord gives to His people, because there plenty of milk and honeycomb in the word of God to feast for years on.

Dear Heavenly Father mold us into your image living a life we called to has believers of those that believe in Christ’s Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: