Today’s Encouragement is, “And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” Titus 2:12 NLT
Turn From –
Why does God allow us to be in situations where we are tempted to sin?
Why doesn’t He deliver us, once and for all time, from the temptation to sin, especially when we pray, sincerely, repeatedly, in trusting faith, to be delivered from the temptation and sin?
Is it possible that He designed us to need Him? To need His Grace, forgiveness, and mercy? Not a one-time occurrence, but a continuous occurrence?
God also created us with free will. There are many different theological theories on that subject alone, but for our purposes, let’s stay with the definition of being capable of choosing right or wrong.
Even Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:1). Everyone is! We all have repeated opportunities to choose God’s way or our way. That’s what it all comes down to. “Do I want to please God, or please myself?”
All sin is self-pleasing, exalting our own flesh, emotions, needs, wants… over God’s way, His Truth.
Our earthly life is a constant struggle between our flesh (our own will and desires) and our spiritual nature. The flesh wants its own way, as Eve and Adam chose in the garden, both turning from God’s way to choose the flesh.
So – God sent a Savior! To save us from ourselves! And all who believe in Him are saved!
Thank You, God, for Jesus, who continually saves us! Help us to consistently choose to – Turn From our own way, the sin-filled way of our flesh, and Turn to Your Perfect Way.
(please don’t miss this one!)
Turn
Ben Fuller
Today’s Encouragement 