Give it up for.....

It was this evening, I was on the phone talking with a friend, while also trying to watch BET's 'The Game'. While talking, a commercial came on, and during this time I figured I would give him my undivided attention. However, while the commercial was on, I got side tracked when I heard the man from TV say "I want to give it up for good..." After hearing this, it made me think how we, as believers should want to give up things for good, or shall I say give up things for God...particularly that sin or sinful habits that is keeping us from Christ. I know last week or so before this post, I talked about not giving up on God, but in this post, I want to talk about giving up sin, but not just for good, but for God! I John 3:4-6 tells us...Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Verse 6 then tells us that "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him."  

Sin defined, is disobedience or rebellion against God. Sin is also defined as unrighteousness. I John 5:17 says, “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not leading to death” (I John 5:17). The truth is, we are all guilty of sin...but there's also the truth that God hates sin and as believers, we must hate what God hates and learn to love obedience.  In the bible, there are a great many kinds of sins, and there are many verses about sin. In Galatians 5:19-20, Paul lists seventeen sins of the flesh which is “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like”.  And it is here we see that the works of the flesh is not just physical sins. In 1 John 2:16, sin is described as coming from three sources: lust of the flesh (gluttony, lust, sloth), lust of the eyes (greed), and pride of life (pride, envy, anger). However, Romans 8:8-9 reads, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon tells us about the things or sins that God hates. For example, Proverbs 6:16-19 reads, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 1) haughty eyes, 2) a lying tongue, 3) hands that shed innocent blood, 4) a heart that devises wicked schemes, 5) feet that are quick to rush into evil, 6) a false witness who pours out lies, and 7) a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

Here we see that the bible describes sin in many ways that is not just confined to external sins. Not only that, but everyone also experiences the seven deadly sins such pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth in daily life...but as believers, we are to live our lives in a way that brings glory to God. I understand that sin is all around us, and within us, but, we should aim at being Christ-like. In 2 Corinthians 13:11, the bible even tells us to aim for perfection. If we are honest, most of us can agree that we know the good we are supposed to do, but yet there are times we choose to sin and fall short of God's perfect standard. As for me, I don't claim to be sinless... and you too shouldn't claim to be sinless for 1 John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we lie and the truth is not in us...BUT if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

As we're on the subject of sin, did you know that we can also sin in our heart and mind...and yet never commit an obvious act of sin? I don't know about you, but even after becoming saved, I myself thought it was innocent to think about certain sins, since I was sure I'd never take part in the actual sin...but that was a mistake. It is true that sin begins both in our heart and mind. This is why we should always ask God to search our heart...and mind. Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life". For example, many of us like to comfort ourselves with the fact we haven't committed certain external sins... but what about those internal sins that are hidden in our heart and mind, or our attitude towards those who commit sin? The truth is, all sins, no matter what it is separates us from God. This is why Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Again I say, this is why we should regularly ask God to search our heart because in asking Him, we are inviting Him to open our heart so we may receive conviction of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Colossians 3:5-10 tells us "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator....Let us also not forget what 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".... If you are not sure if you're in Christ, look at your life.
 
CONCLUSION

Sin is everywhere and all around us. But as I've previously stated, God hates sin! He hates every sin and that should be enough of a reason for us to give up sin, that is unacceptable to Him. Acts 3:19 says, "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven." Whatever the sin, we need to focus our attention on giving up that sin. Take a moment and think about how God demonstrated His love to us. To show His love, God did something totally incredible...He gave up His only begotten son to die for us, to pay for our sins. I don't know about you, but if God can give up his only begotten son, we can choose to give up sin to demonstrate our love to Him. The key to giving up sin fasting, praying ,reading the bible, and attending church, and bible study. Not only that, but Jesus will help those who want to give up sin. Remember, we can do nothing on our own, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)  With respect to the sinning of the non-believers, we must remember that it is God's desire for all people to be SAVED!