You thought gambling was fun until the day you couldn’t stop.

Or, you know it’s wrong to cheat on your schoolwork, but you tell yourself you don’t have a choice. Or, every day, you beg God to give you the strength not to sleep with your boyfriend – again. Or, you struggle with your temper and vow that this morning will be the last time you’ll take it out on your children or your spouse.

Or. Or. Or.

So many scenarios. So many unrelenting, merciless temptations. Nevertheless, we have reason for hope. Notice the past tense in Romans 6:17 (ESV):

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.

We have no hope of changing if we don’t change who or what we surrender ourselves to. Whether we’re yielding to peer pressure, fear of failure, rejection or the devil himself, we’ve got to do whatever is necessary to start loving God more than we love our sin.

What would happen if we spent time with God every day, praying, reading the Bible and developing an incredible closeness with Him?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to discover that the deeper our love for God runs, the more we desire to obey Him? And that the closer we walk with God, the better equipped we’ll be to overcome addictions, choose correct priorities, resist sexual sin and manage our temper? 

Perhaps you’re not able to see yourself in this week’s verse. Is it possible that you are not as committed as you once were to the teachings you embraced as a newer Christ-follower? Maybe you’ve allowed the cares of this world or Satan himself, to pull you away from God. And you wonder, Is it possible to, once again, be “obedient from the heart?”

Yes, Yes it is!

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an increased understanding of the gospel until you fall on your knees as you realize how great your sin debt was and what Jesus did to pay for it on the cross.

Invite God to help you become fully committed to the standard of His Word. Ask Him to show you His perspective of your choices – and His unfailing love for you.

Let your Savior help you put your sins in your past.

What about you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Your comment might also benefit others.)

• Who or what have you been surrendering yourself to?
• Are you ready to put your sins in your past?
• Go to your heavenly Father now and talk to Him about it. He’s listening.

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