Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. (1 Peter 4:1)
Have you ever stuck your finger into one of those paper tubes called finger traps? The more you pull to get your finger free the tighter the trap’s grip becomes. This illustrates what can happen when we try to escape from the attitudes and behaviors of our sinful past. We want to be done with them, but we find habits are hard to break and previously fed appetites are difficult to ignore.
My physician told me to stop eating ice cream before going to bed. I don’t know how he knew about this habit, but I took him at his word. He said nothing about other times of the day, so I occasionally sneak a spoonful in the afternoon—just a bit from around the edges of the carton, where calories don’t live. It is only a spoonful. Besides, it is sugar free. It is easy to say no when I am in the doctor’s office, but it is more difficult when I am looking at an open container and it is not bedtime. I can rationalize all I want, but I know I am supposed to be done with the deadly stuff. What suffering I must endure for my health!
Christ suffered and died to free us from sin’s grip. We too must be willing to suffer in our effort to put sin to death in our lives.
Surrender to God something you want to get rid of.
Ken Heer was an ordained minister with The Wesleyan Church prior to his death. He served as a pastor, educator, and church leader for more than fifty years.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
