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Transcript of the Video

Hello and welcome to giveattentiontoreading.com, where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. Today’s reading comes from Romans chapters 15 and 16. I’d like to give attention to Romans 16:19.

For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

I’ve heard preachers joke and even I have joked sometimes talking about doing “sin research.” We’ll talk about going down to the beach or going out to a bar and say, “Well, we’ve got to know what’s going on so we can preach against it.” And I guess that’s okay as long as we keep it as a joke.

The problem is that sin research is very detrimental to lots of Christians. Sadly, many Christians keep turning back to their sins. And it’s as if they’re doing research.  They’re becoming wise as to what is evil. They’re becoming experienced as to what is evil.

I’ve heard another group talk about research. It’s those who are in addiction recovery. But they talk about it with sadness. They talk about a fallen brother or sister who’s gone back into their addiction, saying that they’re doing research. That is, they’re researching to find out if their sin or addiction is going to help them this time when it’s never helped them before. But what they all know is that the one conclusion is it will never help. One of two things will happen. They’ll either figure it out and try to get out of their addiction again. Or their addiction will kill them.

And that’s the way it is with sin. When we do sin research, we’re either going to find out that it doesn’t help us, and then we’re going to have an even harder time turning back to Jesus and overcoming. Or our sins will kill us.

And so, Paul says, don’t research sin. Don’t be wise when it comes to what is evil. Be innocent. Be inexperienced. Don’t try to find out what that does. Instead, be wise as to what is good.

So, today, I want to research what is good. I want to experience what is good. I want to pursue what is good. I want to be in God’s Word and follow what it says and research and prove what is good and acceptable and perfect, the will of God. I don’t want to research sin. That’s where death is.

How about you?

Thanks again for checking out giveattentiontoreading.com. I’d love to know what you thought of today’s post or what else you got out of today’s reading. So make sure you drop down to the comments section and feel free to join in the discussion. And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for another dose of the Great Physician’s medicine.

This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

The transcript for this video is not yet available.

This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

Hello and welcome to giveattentiontoreading.com, where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. Today’s reading is from Acts chapters 19 and 20. I’d like to give attention to Acts 19:18-19:

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Sometimes, I want to be forgiven and I even want to be set free from sin, but I don’t want to make any sacrifices. These brethren from Ephesus understood if they were going to freedom from their sin, it was going to take more than merely confessing their evil practices. They had to cut off the paraphernalia of their sin. They had to make even deeper sacrifices.

I know that recovering addicts hear this message. They’re told that in recovery they’re learning to play a new game. Because they’re learning to play a new game that means they’ve got to get rid of their old playthings, their old playmates, and their old playgrounds. Instead, they’ve got to find new playgrounds, and develop new playmates, and find new playthings. If they don’t, when times get tough, they’ll just go back to their old games.

This isn’t just about addiction; this is really about any sin. If we want forgiveness, but more importantly, if we want to be set free, we’ve got to get rid of all those old things that take us back into our sins. We’ve got to develop new playmates, get new playthings, and go to new playgrounds. Otherwise, we’re just going to go back to our sins.

I once read of a fellow who said that he had prayed and prayed and prayed that God would take some sin out of his life. Until he finally realized that the reason he was praying that was so that he wouldn’t have to go through the pain of giving it up.

Now certainly, it’s only through God that we can have victory. After all, it was God who defeated Goliath. But let’s not forget, it was David who had to give up the old ways of fighting. It was David who had to cast off the armor of Saul and walk on to the battlefield merely in the strength of the Lord. If you want to walk on to the battlefield in the strength of the Lord, then you’ve got to cast off and cut off all those old playthings and playmates and playgrounds.

You’ve got to walk a new path. You’ve got to sacrifice. What are you going to cut off today?

Thanks again for checking out giveattentiontoreading.com. I’d love to know what you thought of today’s post or what else you got out of today’s reading. So, make sure you drop down to the comments section and join in the discussion. And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for another dose of the Great Physician’s medicine.

Hebrews 13 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Hebrews 13:1-25 and James 1:1-27.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

H.A.L.T. Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired.

I’ve known for some time now that these are dangerous times. Whenever I’m hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, I’m far more susceptible to temptation and triggers. James highlights one of these. Anger. I know that simply being angry is not a sin (cf. Ephesians 4:26). But at the same time, being angry can very easily lead to sin.

My anger does not produce God’s righteousness in me. When I’m responding out of anger, I’m not likely responding with God’s righteousness. When I’m acting in anger, I’m not likely acting with God’s righteousness. Oh, I know there is a holy anger. I’ve heard all about “righteous indignation” (by the way, can you find me the verse that mentions that?). There is a time to be angry. However, I need to be really, really careful. I have a tendency to think that anytime I’m angry is justifiable, but I’m probably biased. I’m guessing that even in response to sin, if I’m simply acting out of my anger, I’m probably not going to pursue God’s righteousness.

Therefore, today I need to check my motives. Am I just angry? Is that why I’m acting the way I’m acting? If so, I need to back up and slow down. What can I do to deal with my anger quickly and not give the devil any opportunity in my life?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking the following link: Post a comment.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Matthew 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Matthew 3:1-4:25.

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! for it is written, ” ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” ‘ ” (Matthew 4:8-10).

Don’t miss the real temptation. Satan is not tempting Jesus with kingship, rule, and power. According to Psalm 110:1-7, Jesus was already promised all this from His Father. He was going to rule all the kingdoms of the world anyway. The temptation was that God’s way to the throne was going to be hard. He had already had to leave heaven to accomplish it. He was going to spend 3 years wandering as an itinerant teacher. He was going to be rejected, mocked, ridiculed, and eventually crucified to get to rule. Satan essentially said, “Hey, why bother with all of that? Here is an easier, softer way. Just bow down and worship me once. Just once. You don’t have to do it for the rest of your life. If you just worship me here and now, you won’t have to take up that cross.” But Jesus refused. He chose God’s way, though it included the cross. And I’m so thankful, because God’s way allowed me to be saved. Satan’s way might have given Jesus rule of the world (though I’m convinced Satan is a liar and would have yanked it out from under Jesus instead of really giving Him the rule), but it would have kept me and you from being saved.

I’m so glad to see this. First, because it lets me know I’m not alone. Satan tempts me all the time. Sometimes I begin to think I’m the only one going through this pressure. But even Jesus went through it. Second, it lets me know how to defeat the temptation. Just rely on God, His Word, and His way. God’s way always works. Third, I’m glad to read it because it helps me really identify Satan’s temptations. I often overlook temptation and sin with a dismissive, “Oh, surely God wouldn’t have a problem with that.” What I need to look for is when my choices include God’s way and the easier softer way. Satan often promises me the very same thing God does. He simply says I don’t have pick up my cross to get the promise. I need to be able to say, “Not today, Satan. I’m going God’s way. It may be harder, but it works.”

Which way are you going today? God’s way or the easier softer way?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Add your input by clicking the following link: Post a Comment.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Mark 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Mark 1:1-2:28.

“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Mark 2:17).

Can you imagine going to the doctor because you are not feeling well, but covering up the festering wound that is the heart of the infection because it embarrasses you to actually be sick? That would be ridiculous. And yet, that is exactly what I want to do with Jesus.

I need to rethink the advice I hear from my constant internal image consultant. That little inner voice tells me I need to cover up my sinfulness. I need to hide it. I need to present myself as righteous. I need to demonstrate that I’m good enough. Then Christ will want me. But that is not at all what He says. He wants sinners.

That is great. That means He is calling me. I can run to Him. I can show Him my sins and He will work on them. I can let Him in to see the real me. More than that, I can let me see the real me. I can pull off my blinders, take a long hard look at what I need to hand over to Jesus to clean up.

He is not asking for the few, the proud, the righteous. He is calling those who will admit they are sinners in need of a Savior.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Romans 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Romans 3:1-4:25.

“For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring–not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:14-16).

For too long, I have tried to gain the promise of God by adhering to His law. My problem has been I continually fall short. It is not that I don’t like the law or don’t want to follow God’s law. I do. But I have repeatedly fallen. What hope do I have?

Great in every respect. I have hope because I have discovered it is not the adherents of God’s law that receive the promise. In fact, so long as I’m trying to receive the promise by keeping God’s law, I won’t receive it. Rather, I make it void. How great is God!? It is not those who keep the law that receive the promise. It is those who share the faith of Abraham.

Why was Abraham righteous? Not because he kept the law. He lied and tried to get around God’s plan and who knows what else (God knows). He was righteous because he came to believe God and live by that belief. I don’t have to live in fear today because I’ve violated God’s law. I can live in faith today that He sent His Son to wipe my sins away. I can rely on His grace and know that I’m guaranteed His promise. I believe and therefore have access to His grace. I am free today to simply serve God as best I know how, turning to Him when I mess up because He is my gracious and loving Father.

Praise God!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Acts 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 1:1-2:47.

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38).

I’ve been cut to the heart before. How do I respond? Do I turn against the one who has cut me? Do I stop my ears and sing, “La, la, la, la, I can’t hear you”? Or do I examine myself. Do I recognize the despair my own actions have caused?

I usually want to avoid that despair because I think there will be no solution. I think things are too far gone and no one, not even God can do anything about it. But when these folks cried out, there was a solution. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive forgiveness and the Spirit’s gift. Peter had an answer to their seemingly unanswerable question, “What shall we do?”

Peace has never come by ignoring the despair of a pricked heart. It has only ever come for me when I faced it and asked the questions I thought had no answers. When I face those questions, I find that God does have an answer. He will forgive my sins. He will preserve my soul. He will protect and guide me. Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.