The Sinful Christian has many tough decisions

"My people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true. Because you've turned your back on knowledge, I've turned my back on you priests. Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God.....The result: You can't tell the people from the priests, the priests from the people." (Hosea 4:4-10, MSG)

In the book of Hosea, both priests and people rejected God's knowledge and lived a life of sin. They forgot the law of God, they neither desired it nor abided by it. Therefore, God justly forgot about His people and their children.

It is not difficult for the temptations of sin to creep into the life of the believer. So how does it begin? One minute on fire for God and the next? Well, not so much!

First, it begins in our minds. Thought patterns influence what we allow ourselves to believe, to see, and eventually what we do. Secondly, it comes from the Enemy of our souls. Have you ever had a random ungodly thought pop into your mind and wonder "Where did that come from?" These are Satan's attempts to try to entice us to disobey God and His truth. Satan's purpose is to destroy our character and lead us astray. At that moment, we can decide to entertain the temptation of the lie or respond with God's truth. Will we allow our minds to be transformed by God's word or will we take the bait?

No matter how our minds are bombarded by unwanted temptations, we must remember that as believers, we have the ability to overcome sin. We are not helpless victims, but sons and daughters of a POWERFUL God. Because we are indwelled by God's Spirit, we have the power to extinguish the Enemy's flaming arrows (Eph. 6:16). We are also able to know the mind of Christ, take our thoughts captive to Him, and have victory over every temptation. "What is unlawfully gained, cannot be comfortably used." Pretty soon, "luck" runs out and sin becomes exposed, bringing with it the detriments of guilt, shame, condemnation, and death.

The people and the priests in Hosea's day hardened one another in sin and they would later become ruined by that sin. People often consult the ways of the world, their own ideas or strength, or other people before gaining truth, knowledge, and freedom from God's liberating Word. Soon, we begin to justify the sin and become hardened to God's conviction. Then, Satan takes full possession of our lives, and leaves us ripe for destruction.

Believer, I encourage you to seek truth and knowledge from God's word. Do not allow your life to be ruined by lack of knowledge. If you are struggling with sin today, I encourage you to repent, seek God's truth in His word, and go to a trusted friend, family member or adviser that the enemy of your soul may no longer keep you captive and you can be well on your way to a Christ-like life of freedom!

Christina is the founder of Relentless Love Ministries and lives in Linton. She is an active speaker, guest lecturer, and published author. For more information, questions, or comments, email chollensbe@mac.com.