Decide Not to Sin

What keeps you from indulging in sin? Perhaps there could be several answers to that; the Holy Spirit’s guidance, positive peer pressure not to sin, a friend’s intervention? All of these are part of God’s design to keep our hearts tuned in with His.

James 1:14-15, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

Therefore, as far as it depends upon me, self-control becomes key to saying ‘NO’ to sinful choices. But the desire to say NO and actually saying NO can be two different things. Paul shares a struggle he had that all people have. Romans 7:15, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”

We do what we don’t want to do, in part, because we justify how, or why, a particular “gray area” is actually okay, when in fact it isn’t. Or perhaps we don’t test the advice we receive on things like getting revenge, pursuing a desire, or accepting a doctrine. God’s word was designed to serve as a testing manual to help us make decisions that are rational and wise, and, most importantly, to honor God!

Hebrews 5:12-14, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

When we are humble enough to recognize that we need another source to be our aide in making decisions, and when we recognize that source to be found in the Spirit’s guidance through the Word, then perhaps we can be more hopeful that our decision-making process will end in less regret, and instead, more praise to God.