Turn Away From Whatever Gets You Stuck

Turn Away From Whatever Gets You Stuck | August 12, 2023       

While God's grace remains an undisputed fact of theology and tangible encouragement from the Scripture, there is no license to stay in sin. He freed us from the bondage of sinful living. Remaining or going back into a lifestyle of habit that He does not endorse is foolish and ultimately a waste of the precious time we have in this life. The reason is that sin makes our life "stuck." When living contrary to God's approval, we get stuck emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Sometimes there are finical and social consequences to our trespassing.

In John 8:1-11, A group of religious leaders came to test Jesus' commitment to the Old Testament and compassion for people by bringing an adulterous woman before Him. The Lord's merciful and unprecedented response flips the script on their prideful agenda. He tells the arrogant group that they can stone the woman if they have no sins themselves. One by one, they dropped their stones and went home. As incredible as that scene was, Jesus was not making lite of the woman's sin in any way. Although she came to faith in Christ and was declared justified, she still had the human responsibility to be obedient. Jesus said, in John 8:11b “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Essentially Jesus is saying, "Sweetheart, you need to turn away and run from this sinful habit that makes you stuck." Remember, the religious leaders literally "caught" her in the act of adultery. If we lack humility and prideful pursue our fleshy urges, we too will be caught/trapped by the ways of this world.

The way to combat this clear and present danger is to remember Jesus' Words in this chapter. His message of no condemnation and a call for obedience also applies to you and me. Thus, there is no mistake when it comes to His freedom. If He has set us free, we are truly free. John 8:36 / ESV, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

He has set us free to serve His plans and purposes faithfully. Therefore, refuse to stay or get stuck in sin. Stay the course and seek God's best every time!