Don’t Be Captive To Evil Desires

Scripture: Romans 7: 5-6

⁵When we were controlled by our old nature,^[b] sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. ⁶But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary:

Does this sound familiar: I’m trying my best but I seem to be getting nowhere? This will be a constant refrain if you are captive to the power of sin, haven’t accepted Jesus Christ and haven’t called on the Holy Spirit. You will remain confused and lost as long as you are living for yourself and continue in this worldly lifestyle.

As with Paul, you must be born again to God’s Holy Spirit. Without Christ, you are living a lifestyle of self gratification and determination. When you accept Christ and invite him into your life, he becomes your center. This is what Paul tells us in Romans 7: 5-6.

You cannot earn your way into the Kingdom of God by following the commandments and laws or even by attending church. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross opened the way to eternity with God. His Holy Spirit will show you what to do. Paul looked to Jesus for salvation because that’s the way to the Father.

The only one who can set you free is Jesus Christ. Thank God we are free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans 7

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins

God Is the Root That Supports You

Wealth Won’t Buy Your Way To Heaven

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6: 2-5

²God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy. ³A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead. ⁴His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, ⁵and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man.

Scripture Commentary:

We are bombarded with messages and images of wealth, from the Powerball to seeing the lifestyles of the richest people in the world. These riches refer to earthly value. Solomon asks how rich and valuable is your soul? How do you go about enhancing your relationship with God.

Solomon shows us that having God as the head of your life is the only value you need. What you’ve accumulated here on earth stays on earth but what you’ve accumulated for God goes with you into eternity. Think about it: if you live a thousand years, it’s ultimately meaningless without God.

Everyone dies; it does not matter if you are rich or poor. And none of us will take anything that we have acquired with us. We can eat the right foods, do physical exercise but in the end, death is waiting for all of us yet we don’t spend nearly as much time or effort on our spiritual health. It’s short-sighted to work hard to extend this life and not take the necessary steps to fulfill what God has for us. Solomon is telling us that we have the road map to God. It’s the Bible. Follow it!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Ecclesiastes 6

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Ecclesiastes

The Conclusion Is to Know God

Sow Your Seed in the Morning

Build Your Life on the Foundation of the Bible

Scripture: Luke 6: 48-49

⁴⁸It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ⁴⁹But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Scripture Commentary: The Bible is the foundation for life.

This parable references how we do things in life. Why do we still build structures so close to the water? We know that when the floods sweep down against it, the soil will wash away and the foundation will weaken.

Every year more properties are built in these locations and the beauty of being near the water is promoted, leaving out the hazards that come with living there. This is how Satan reaches us – with the beautiful scenery and no mention of the possible storms.

God has given us the blueprint, The Bible, on which to build our life. If we study the Good Book, we will build our life on solid rock, not on dirt or sand. When the storm comes – and it will come – God has placed protection around us. The hard winds and rains of life will not topple us.

This is a lifelong process, not a quick fix. The crises in our lives test our faith.

Is your faith in Jesus built on sand, dirt, or on solid rock? Can you withstand Satan’s storms? Trust in Jesus Christ, your Protector, your One God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke:

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

Lord, I Will Follow You