No Sin Required.

As believers, we're often faced with choices that test our resolve to follow God. We're tempted to pursue things that promise fulfillment and happiness, but may not align with God's Word. The Bible warns us that the ways of the world are contrary to God's ways (Romans 12:2, Isaiah 55:8-9). When we pursue things that aren't from God, we often find ourselves compromising our values and sinning to keep them. But when something is truly from God, we don't have to sin to keep it.

The Bible is clear: God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). When we're walking in God's plan, we can trust that what He has for us is worth obeying His commands. We don't have to manipulate, lie, or hurt others to keep it. Instead, we can walk in integrity, knowing that God's ways are higher than our own. Proverbs 10:9 says, "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." When we're living in God's will, we can have confidence that we're walking in integrity.

In contrast, the things that aren't from God often require us to compromise our values to keep them. We may have to hide behind a mask of deceit, or pretend to be someone we're not. But God wants us to live in freedom, not in bondage to sin (John 8:36, Romans 6:22). When we're chasing after something that's not from God, we're often tempted to bend the rules or compromise our values to get it. But God's Word reminds us that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

So how do we know if something is from God or not? The Bible gives us a clear test: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). We must test everything against the Word of God, and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. When we're walking in God's will, we'll experience a sense of peace, joy, and freedom that can only come from living in obedience to His Word (John 14:27, Galatians 5:1).

In conclusion, let's seek to discern what is from God and what is not. Let's trust that His best for us is worth obeying His Word. May we walk in the freedom and joy that comes from living in God's will, without having to sin to keep it. May we be people of integrity, walking securely in the knowledge that God's ways are higher than our own.

—MC©️

#Faith2bStrongOnPurpose