Slaying Dragons: Lust — Friday
Romans 5:20b
…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more... (ESV)
Today, I want to speak to those who have failed in the area of sexual sin. Here’s my message: “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, receive God’s grace and forgiveness, and start over.” Don’t wallow around on the cold, damp prison-cell floor of guilt. Just one drop of the blood of Jesus forgives all your sin. Embrace that truth and preach it to the person who most needs to hear it—YOU! There’s life after sexual sin, friend; receive it and move on.
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.” Notice something there: He does the sanctifying; you do the avoiding. Start today and don’t look back.
Ezekiel received a word from the Lord: “Dry bones can live again.” You can read about it in Ezekiel 37:1-10. I believe in you, friend; more importantly, God believes in you. Start over, and don’t ever give up.
Louisa Fletcher, a wonderful poet whose life was checkered by a boatload of moral failure and heartache, penned these words:
I wish there were some wonderful place
called the “land of beginning again,”
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches
and all our poor selfish grief,
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door
and never be put on again.
There is such a place, friend; it’s called the Cross, the ultimate Grace Place, the best place in the world to begin again. If you haven’t been there—and knelt there—stop by soon and see for yourself.
Friday’s Reflection
Years ago, when I was 18, I ran across a poem that gave hope to my broken life. I want you to read it in its entirety. As you do, ask God to give you the courage to hear its message for the rest of your life. Here’s a link. If you’d like to hear it set to song, click here.
