OK, this may sound a bit harsh, but I do feel compelled to share my discouragement on a very important subject that has recently increased in volume. You see, I receive a lot of emails and letters from DW's audience. I love conversing and praising Jesus Name with all my sisters (and brothers) in Christ and praying for your specific needs, requests, concerns, etc. That said, I'm always in shock when people write me requesting approval to venture into sinful choices.
Ladies, let me be REAL clear... deliberating over sin - ANY SIN - is not OK.
Yes, I know you want what you want.
You want to have sex before marriage to keep your boyfriend interested.
You want to divorce your horrible husband.
You want homosexuality to be acceptable.
You want to have an affair with a married man.
You want to steal from your corrupt employer.
You want to tell white lies to save face.
You want to complain and criticize others.
You want to accumulate and cling to possessions and money.
You want to dominate and control every situation to get your own way.
Simply put, you want what you want to be right... right?
HOWEVER... biblically, God is against these sinful choices - and you know it. So, what do you do? You write Victoria at DW and ask for her approval. You figure, Victoria is the founder of a Christian ministry, right? So, if she gives the OK, somehow God may change his mind and offer a loophole, right? WRONG! I hold no such authority. Only God is able to tell us what is right and what is wrong... and He does so in His perfect holy Word!
Each day, women rationalize to me just about every excuse in the book as to why their situation is different from any other person's who ever lived. Then, I am always asked for approval - a free hall pass, if you will, for someone to visit sin-central in order to change their current predicament. They say comments to me like, "Victoria, surely scripture in this matter doesn't apply to MY situation, does it? If God only knew what I was going through, He'd make an exception, wouldn't He?"
Ladies, I love you. I love you so much that I will boldly tell you in love what you don't want to to hear rather than what you do. Trust me when I tell you, God ALWAYS knows what you are going through and allows trials to occur for His glory and our good. While on this earth, we will be tested to do what is right. And during these tests, sin will always appear more attractive. For sin is, in fact, addictive! But choosing to sin is most definitely NOT a godly choice. Sin (of any kind) will never be OK with God! Why? Because sin is SIN! It is what corrupts. It is what destroys. It is what separates us from His Throne!
If you are trying to convince yourself that God's Word is not absolute... If you are trying to rationalize that what the Bible states as "wrong" is now somehow personally "right" because of your own unique situation and/or desires... Well, I love you enough to tell you, STOP! NO! The wages of sin are death!!! And death is separation from Jesus! Only HE is life!!! If you have chosen Jesus as your Lord, then you must no longer choose sin... you must not deliberate over sin... you must not envy those who are sinning... you must hate sin and love Christ alone!
So, as short and sweet as this blog may be, here is my answer to any and all requests from those who wish to ask for my approval to proceed forward with any form of sin... STOP! NO!
Hear me, ladies! Get wise to the enemy trying to snare you away from what is holy. Run away from evil and choose to believe and follow Jesus instead! His way is the right way! His way is better and healthier for you! His way is the only way to live freely with God forever, and to enjoy a full and joyful LIFE in His holiness!
Fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-16)
Ask yourself, are you choosing to live in Christ today or are you choosing to please yourself? Personally, as for me and my household, we choose to serve the Lord! Why? Because God hates and rejects sin... so, I will trust Him and hate and reject sin also!
How about you?
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:14, 18-19, 26)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)
Is your love for God sincere? If so, I implore you to live like it! STOP making excuses and/or looking for rationalizations that lead you away from Him! Reject the snares of the enemy and boldy say NO to sin! Always choose what is holy! Live by God's Word, God's Way! And, most importantly, always... ALWAYS....LOVE the Lord with ALL your heart, mind, soul and strength!!!
What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.
THIS IS THE DAY!
Blessings!
~Victoria
© 2011 The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson
Wao! I am definitely blessed.Thanks so much for posting..this is what my soul,spirit needs.God is the author of every good gift,yes He is and everything we go through is for Him to help us come out victoriously in other to know Him better and believe that He exists,that is His glory.He doesn't cause those pains and all sort,we choose our own ways forgetting that we need to depend on Him.We need to learn to be humble and allow His will to be done in our lives.We need to trust and obey.The only way is by availing ourselves to Him,be lowly in heart.If we want to be saved,we have to come to HIM in HIS terms.GRBU!
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