Don’t Look Back

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“You shall not commit adultery.” --Exodus 20:14 Talking about a subject like adultery is unpleasant. It’s unpleasant because in our hearts, we know how dire the consequences of this sin really are.  What’s sad, though, is that as horrible as the consequences of adultery or sexual sin are, so many people… including Bible-believing, Christ-following people… continue to put themselves in a position to be tempted by the sin of adultery.  That’s why I want you to think about your day-to-day life. Think about the people you work with, the people you email with, or even the people you might Facebook with each day.  Is every relationship you have… whether it’s online or offline… aboveboard? Are your motives in each relationship pure?  First Corinthians chapter 10 tells us with any temptation, God provides a way of escape. And one way of escape he has given us is his Word. This is why I’m such a strong advocate of memorizing Scripture!  Because just trying to not think lustful thoughts really doesn’t do you any good. You and I have to replace bad thoughts with good thoughts. And the best thoughts you can put in your mind are God’s words. So today, I want to help you start winning the battle against lust and sexual sin in your life by giving you a verse you can memorize. It’s 2 Corinthians 10:5, which says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” So write that down. Second Corinthians 10:5. Learn it and memorize it. And the next time you’re tempted to lust… the next time you’re tempted to flirt… the next time you’re tempted to cross that line… repeat this verse in your head. You may even need to say it out loud! However you do it, use this verse to help you take every lustful, adulterous thought you have captive. And trust me, the escape of God’s Word will protect you, your witness for Christ, and the godly relationships in your life. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE BAD THOUGHTS WITH GOOD THOUGHTS. AND THE BEST THOUGHTS YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR MIND ARE GOD’S WORDS.

Don’t Look Back

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Ephesians 4:20-24

Though Ruth was born in Moab rather than Israel, she recognized the God of her new family as the true Lord of all and began worshiping him. Even after the death of her husband, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law, Ruth trusted in God. When Naomi decided to return to Israel, she urged Ruth and Orpah to stay behind, but Ruth refused. She issued this ringing declaration of her commitment: “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:17).

God saved us from sin, and calls us to become more and more like His Son. Though God provides us the power through His Spirit and the knowledge through His Word, we must do our part in the process for it to achieve its desired goal. The tentacles of past sin grow deeply in our hearts, and we must ensure that we are looking forward rather than back. If we are dwelling on what was behind, we will certainly be presented an opportunity to return to our sin. “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned” (Hebrews 11:15). Instead we must focus on Jesus and on moving forward. The sins of the past are forgiven and the power of sin to control us is broken. But we must not look back.

Today's Growth Principle: 

If we are not fully committed to moving forward with Christ, we will drift backward into old sins.