So be careful to think before you choose to sin !

There is a principle in the Word of God in (Galatians 6:7) that says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This is an eternal principle that simply states that for every action or choice that we make in life, there is a consequence. If our choices therefore are righteous we will reap righteous consequences, but if our choices are evil, evil consequences. We have seen from our study in the life of King David that even a righteous man after he repents of sin, still has to deal with the consequences of his sin, even though he is forgiven by God. When we choose the path of sin, we need to realize that at the end of the road lies judgment and death. No man, because of the above principle, can practice sin without consequences later. Although King David immediately repented of his sin after being confronted by the prophet of God, he still reaped the consequence of the death of his child and the judgment of God upon his family for years after. Our God is a forgiving God, but his Word will not be mocked. We need to be careful to remind ourselves that repentance does not always mean that God will remove the consequences, and while it is true that a repentant man will find mercy with God, it is also true that God is the one who ultimately decides the duration or the type consequences after we sin. So be careful to think before you choose to sin !

Sin always progresses downward

Since the Garden of Eden, man has had to fight his sin nature to stay right with God. Whether we are the most spiritual person on earth or not, we still need to be careful to fight the temptations of sin. In the story of David and Bathsheba, David fell into sin because he allowed himself to give into it. Sin always starts in the mind and progresses downward into sinful actions. How? 1) David was idle. While his comrades were busy fighting and serving God, David stayed behind. His guard was down and his thoughts free to wander. Unfortunately that’s precisely when temptation strikes. 2) David gave into lust. “…every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust…” Temptation is not sin, but lust is. David allowed himself to dwell in lust long enough for lust to take him captive. 3) Lust then moved David to action. “Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin.” David, no longer satisfied with just a look, gave into the sin of adultery. 4) Adultery then moved David to murder. “Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.” David killed Bathsheba’s husband, his baby died, and later the judgment of God took the life of some of his children. Sin always progresses downward.

"A mature believer knows"

As believers we need to realize that life is a series of ups and downs, and as believers we are supposed to be able to ride them out without quitting. While others seem to throw in the towel, a mature believer knows how to encourage himself in the Lord. 1) Don’t forsake church, it’s the very place you need to be when discouraged. 2) Stop being so self-centered, learn to be actively involved in helping others. 3) Start rejoicing again in the Lord, stop looking at what is wrong and praise the Lord for what is right. 4) Stop worrying about everything, some people aren’t happy unless they worry all the time. 5) Stop thinking negatively, faith is always positive. God’s promises are always I will, or you can. Let God’s Word and the Lord be your strength, and trust not in the flesh.