~The dreaded VIRUS~

So the dreaded stomach bug hit our house this week. It all started Sunday night at church when Andrew decided to baptize Thomas and me. My husband and I kept hoping it was just something he ate and not something we would all end up sharing. I held Andrew as close as I could to comfort him. I was thrown up on. I did my best to clean up after him and disinfect anything he touched. I took every precaution I knew to take to try to keep myself and those around me from getting it. I did my best, but the fact of the matter was that we were all exposed to it first hand and everyone except for Zach (so far) ended up getting it. The dreaded virus!! UGH!!!! Andrew is all better now, I’m still feeling a little queasy, but much better than I did yesterday. Thomas and Lee are still questionable.

I was thinking this morning about how this nasty virus could be compared to sin. Sin is much the same and just as nasty. We have every intention of trying to be a help or think that we can ‘clean up’ after someone and no one else feel the effect of it; or that it won't rub off on us because we are stronger than that. We hug it up thinking they will turn around or that we can be that influence that stops it. Maybe we try to convince ourselves that it isn’t really sin. We have this false illusion that we can stay around it and not be influenced by it. Then one day we wake up and it has not only engulfed our life, but also affected those that love us. It has taken over with a vengeance.

The Bible gives us strong warning about all sin, it tells us what sin is and the things that God hates. It goes so far to say in James 4:17, ‘to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is a sin.’ It tells us to ‘abstain from all appearance of evil’ (1 Thessalonians 5:22), to come out and be separate, touch not the unclean thing (2 Corinthians 6:17). In another place it tells us that if anyone comes with another doctrine not to even bid it in under our roof (2 John 1:10). Romans 6:13 tells us not to yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but to yield ourselves to God. 2 Thessalonians 3 tells us to withdraw ourselves from ‘every brother that walketh disorderly’ (6) and if any be disobedient, ‘note that man, and have no company with him.’ The Bible does not warn us for nothing. Sin is a very serious thing and it’s end is destruction.

Jesus died on the cross, a cruel death, and then rose on the 3rd day so that we could make heaven our home. He said Not my will Lord, but thine be done.  This journey isn't all about what we want, it's about what God wants for our lives.  Jesus came so that we could be free from sin. We may not be perfect yet, but we are working toward perfection. If we yield ourselves to God we will not walk in sin.  Lord, help me to fully walk in your will. Keep me free from sin and full of you. Righteousness is what I long for and it’s what I need!

Ephesians 4:8-16

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Romans 6

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Niether yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed: for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.