​The Way of Escape

 
One of the great challenges in growing spiritually, as a Christian, is the refusal to purchase lies from the enemy. As a born again believer in Jesus Christ you have everything you need to mature, to develop and to realize that you are actually free from your past sins and empowered to resist the temptation toward future sin.
 
Paul told the church at Corinth this: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV)
 
Right now I am burdened to speak against the sin of selfishness, the idea just keeps coming back to my mind of how much sin is rooted in selfishness. As a biblical counselor and pastor, I listen to each word spoken by those I am trying to help and in every case I hear words coming from a heart of selfishness. We are tempted multiple times everyday to be selfish. As born again believers we have power over selfishness. We are called to die to self… right?
 
What if we practice Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  This one principle could change the entire world and the only reason this principle has not changed the entire world is that you must have the power of Christ living in you to practice this principle.
 
I love quoting the Apostle Paul, but Jesus said it best: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)
 
Many marriage problems originate in selfishness and seem insurmountable because of selfishness. Hey let’s just cut to the chase…anyone can get a divorce. Also, anyone can commit any kind of sin. If our lives are about glorifying God and our marriages are about glorifying God, then we should find the way of escape…not from marriage…but from sin.
 
Just encouraging you,
 
Be Biblical!
 
ATG