Itsblackandwhite.org

Fighting Temptations...

http://www.itsblackandwhite.org/weekly-devotional.html

Merry Christmas 🎄 to everyone. I know you will hear that all day. Aren't we glad we live in a country that is free and allows freedom of worship?

Christians all over the globe will worship their Savior today. Secular society will make this day about gifts, family, and love. Although it is, without Christ at the center, it's a highjacked holiday.

We as followers of Christ remember today as the birthday of the beginning of God's redemptive plan to bring us back to Him.

As we continue to see the decline in the moral order of humanity, let's us remember we have a Savoir. A King, the King of all King's. He came to save humanity from their sins.

Our Savior came for the lost for which I was. He saved me right where I was and now I live free. Free? Yes, free from the penalty of sin which is eternal death separated from all things good.

So this Christmas walk in freedom. Not freedom from pain, suffering, and heartache. But freedom from condemnation and judgement.

Our Savior came to save. We are only saved when we accept this gift of salvation. The bible says in Romans 10,

"If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the grave you will be saved."

"All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

This means those that celebrate Christmas without celebrating the Savoir can be saved. The question is, will they or you call on him?

Don't miss the reason for the season. A baby was born to die and because of this we can live!

Ephesians 2:8-9,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Let's go, 70 plus degrees in December. Burn those calories and build that immune system.

Riding today this came to mind, "Righteous Anger." I believe there is plenty of that going around today and I see why. Most have good motives and see the moral decay in America. So for sure, righteous anger comes to mind.

A black man drives a vehicle through a crowd and kills many and it's the vehicles fault, the cultures fault, and because of mental illness.

A white young man walks into a school and uses his dad's gun to kill many and it is his fault and his parents.

We should be angry at both situations. First, there is personal responsibility. Then, there are circumstances. Both situations are tragic for the victims and the suspects.

Sadly, we use our righteous anger to take it out on each other. It's not a black or white issue. It's a moral issue. It's a SIN issue.

And here is the worst part, much of the media uses these situations to divide us. Much of the media, yes those people in front of your screen or typing a article, represent evil. They themselves will compromise their own souls to get a dollar and claim 1st Amendment while they do it.

We, sadly, read their junk and allow it to divide us. We become righteously angered and then act just like them.

I recently learned what God builds, Satan destroys. And in this case, it's us!

I am reminded of God's Word in the scriptures,

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

These words convict me. Why? I, like many of you, have righteous anger, and at times, I really want to spew it out.

Most of the time on social media it's gets me in trouble. Not because I am wrong, but because many don't see the motive behind it.

Paul wrote these words in Ephesians,

"But don’t let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day. Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!" (PTL)
Ephesians 4:26-27

In the NIV it reads,

"In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

I know in my own righteous anger it has caused me to sin. I don't want it to be this way.

I would like to encourage us believers, those that claim to be Christians, to not let our anger cause us to SIN!

Yes, I like you am angry at the race baiting, hypocrisy, immortality. But let's not forget, God builds and the devil destroys.

I don't want to destroy in my anger. My hope is we get to places of truth and understanding. Of what?

The world is broken through SIN and shame. We are all unworthy outside of the goodness of God and His amazing grace.

God has a redemptive plan. It's not through laws or good works, but through HIS own blood.

We cannot fix the brokenness, but He can. He wants to use us to do it. So, share the gospel. Jesus is our answer, not winning an argument on Facebook.

Let our anger prompt us to LOVE. Yes, love knocks down walls. What a way to use your anger!

Jesus came to save us because we cannot save ourselves!

Enjoy your day!