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There are many instances in life when we are tempted to do the wrong things
even though we know in our hearts they shouldn't be done. We are tempted
to lie to others to make ourselves look better, we are tempted to cheat to
fulfill some carnal desire or so that we can excel or look better than we
actually are and we are tempted to steal so that we can have the things
that we think we are lacking. Doing any of these things will not bring
fulfillment to the heart, but rather it will bring pain and misery into
our lives. What we must understand is that sin looks very enticing in the
beginning. It looks very sweet, very alluring and very welcoming and does
not show even a hint of the pain that stands behind it. That's why Satan
is so successful in leading people down the wrong path. They don't see
the end result because they are too busy fixated on the lies that seem so
pleasurable in that moment. (James 1:13) (Genesis 3:1-5)
What we must remember is that the end result of sin will bring only
heartbreak, misery and death. We read this in James 1:14-15 “But every
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death.” We must be steadfast in resisting the
enemy's temptations realizing that nothing good will come from them. When
we submit ourselves to the Lord and ask for His guidance and protection, we
will find ourselves better able to follow the right path and do that which
is acceptable before the Lord. (James 4:7) (John 8:44)
Be encouraged to always do the right thing and don't believe the lies of
the enemy. Whatever the devil tells you to do, you should do the opposite.
Jesus calls him a liar and the father of lies. Submit yourself to the Lord
afresh and ask for God's help and strengthening to do the right things.
That is when peace and joy will begin to dominate our life and lead us down
the best path. (James 4:17)
I hope this message ministers to your heart to always do the right thing no
matter how hard it may seem in that moment. By doing what is right, you
are ensuring to protect your own life.
THOSE ARE MY PRINCIPLES
Comedian Groucho Marx quipped, “Those are my principles. If you don't like
them, I have others.”
I have principles. And sometimes I follow them. Well, usually.
I also have opinions. I have opinions about politics, yard sales, health
food and fortune cookies. (Actually, more about the fortunes than the
cookies.) But they're opinions. I could be wrong about some of those things.
And I have opinions about four-year-olds. Like the one who came screaming
out of the bathroom to tell his mother that he dropped his toothbrush in
the toilet. He watched her fish it out and toss it into the garbage.
That is when something occurred to him, something about when a toothbrush
ought to be discarded. He ran to the other bathroom and came out with his
mother's toothbrush. Holding it up, he announced, “We better throw this
one out too then . . . it fell in the toilet a few days ago.”
That confirms at least one of my opinions about four-year-olds.
But it also points to something more than an opinion - a principle. In
this case, the principle is about the importance of trying to do the right
thing, even if you're a few days late in doing it. Martin Luther King, Jr.
put it well: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
And one like it is this: doing the right thing, even in little things, is
never a little thing. And that's not just an opinion. It's a principle
that works.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
James 1:13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.”
James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
Psalm 37:16-19 “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the
riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the
LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright:
and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the
evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”
Ephesians 6:10-14 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand
therefore...”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: LOOKING FOR JESUS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem131.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: HEALED FROM DEPRESSION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony130.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
