Go and Sin No More!

Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”  John 8:8-11   

               

      We are in the midst of 21 days of Great Beginnings.  In a beginning, something new is starting.

     Unless you are perfect (and what are the chances of that?) you need to change something in your life.  If the change is going to be effective and meaningful, the change has to come from the Lord, not you.  Any change involving the Lord's participation starts with you identifying your area of weakness (let's call it sin) and asking for forgiveness.

     Jesus promises forgiveness, which is a new start, or a beginning.

     In the Scripture referenced above, Jesus took a woman who was facing disgrace and death, and gave her a beginning.  Note that her beginning had a string attached:  stop doing what you used to do.  Think it's any different for you?

      Most of our sin is patterned; we tend to do the same things over and over.  I believe that all sin starts in the mind.  I also believe, based on what others have said, on my personal experience and most importantly, on what the Bible says, you absolutely can bring your mind under control.

      Please read II Corinthians 10: 3-5. 

       For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

       Now, read it again.  

        See, your mind does not have a mind of its own and you can bring it under control, with Jesus' help. When your mind next starts down the wrong path, take that thought captive in Jesus' name.  The Bible says you can.

   

        So, what do you do next?  Read Philippians 4:8-9 and follow it.  Simple.  Effective.

            In this Great Beginning of this New Year and throughout it, let me dwell on what is true, honorable, right, and pure. Help me to take every thought captive and inhabit what is good.