Eradicate Sinful Practices

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5: 24 (NIV)

When we received Jesus into our hearts and made Him our Lord, that was the start of a new life. At that moment, God quickened our spirit which was dead in sin and made it alive to Him. But He did not remove our old nature because He created us as free moral agents with a free will to choose between good and evil. The good news is: God has given us a new nature and all the power required to live a new life. Sin has no more hold and authority over us. Yet it still lurks around to try and tempt us to continue with our old habits and sinful behaviours that we would otherwise be ashamed to share in public.

Sin will hinder our prayers and stump our spiritual growth. We are members of the body of Christ. When one member sins or suffers, the whole body is affected. As such, each one of us must seek to eradicate sinful practices from our lives so that the Body of Christ can be built up in purity and holiness to fulfil its mission to be the salt and light of the world.

What does God say about this?

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 (NIV)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)

What does this mean in practical living?

Sin is like gangrene if left unattended. In our physical body, if there is no blood supply to a tissue, that tissue dies. In our spiritual body, we must ensure that the Holy Spirit fills every part of us of our being. This means allowing Him access to every area of our lives. We need to watch our words, our thoughts and our deeds.

We may have our favourite sins that so easily entrap us. These can be lustful thoughts, pride, anger, envy, lying, greed, covetousness and being involved in sexual immorality. Only God can help us. But we must first determine to confess our sins, lay them before God, repent and ask Him to help us overcome and stop committing those sins on a daily basis. Confession is good for the soul. When we are truly sorry for our sins and come before God with a repentant heart and a contrite spirit, He will forgive us. When we constantly seek to eradicate sinful practices and pursue godly practices with discipline, we will develop spiritual muscles and become stronger. We will also find it easier to obey God’s Word and be more sensitive to the guidance of His Holy Spirit in every life situation. When we do that, we will always emerge victorious in Christ.

Reflect and respond to God’s Word

• Identify a couple of favourite sins that only you know about and confess them to God.
• What are the reasons that you are still choosing to harbour those sins?
• Find someone whom you can be accountable to and let him/her keep tab on your progress in eradicating that sinful practice within each week.