James 1:17
November 29, 2023
FEAST OF SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE – 30th NOVEMBER
November 30, 2023
THE 29th OF NOVEMBER
IT IS WORTH IT TO PUT GREAT EFFORT INTO NOT SINNING
You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:4
In the first verse of the same chapter, sin was mentioned as the hindrance that we have to put aside, but here it is the major opponent that we have to subdue, even if it has a high cost. It is not that God did not equip us with all we need to fight against sin, but it looks like sometimes we consider that we cannot do otherwise than sin. If we realize that it is worth it to fight against sin, even if it costs us our earthly lives, in order to gain the eternal life in God’s presence, we can tear apart sin’s strongholds from our minds and be free from its power.
In the second part of Romans 6:11 we read that we should “…reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We are to know and realize that once we decided to follow Jesus, we died with Christ, being dead to sin and raised up with Him, being alive unto righteousness. By renewing our minds through God’s Word and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we may choose to disobey our carnal nature, and hate sin, living right for our Lord.
SUGGESTED PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for teaching me how to deny myself, and pick up my cross, admitting that I have to die to self every day to be able to follow You. Only by doing so I can live right for You and it is worth it. I love and appreciate You so much, dear Lord. Please help me to not get distracted by the false glamour of this world, but to fight against sin, seeking Your face every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
