A Sweeter Song

Do you spend most of your time trying NOT to think about sin? Do you spend your time engaged in serious and difficult battles in your mind, trying to find some way to get past a sin without entertaining it? Certainly, there is a war going on, and we will find ourselves in epic battles against the ministers of Satan and all that is in the world which tries to drag us into sin and destruction (Ephesians 6:12), but how much easier those battles would be if we spent our time thinking about and committing to those things which please the Lord (John 8:28-29).

Just as sinful sights and sounds can encourage us to take steps down the paths of destruction, there are just as many sights and sounds in the world that encourage us to take steps down the paths of righteousness. And we can CHOOSE! (Joshua 24:14-15). We can choose whether or not to study our Bibles or go on random Internet searches. We can choose to spend time with our family rather than play video games. We can choose to read a book that encourages family values instead of watching the TV show that encourages wives to suspect their husbands of infidelity.

The Lord has filled our world with wonderful sights and sounds that reflect His glory, and calls us to higher thoughts, words, and actions. We can choose to think about that sin we don’t want to commit, or we can choose to meditate on those things which will bring us the “peace which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:6-9).

The call of sin and death can be beautiful and alluring, but there is a sweeter song. Listen to the voice of the Lord. Desire to please and serve Him. Make room in your heart and mind for Him, and He will prepare a room for you in His everlasting kingdom (John 14:1-3). —Jeremy Koontz, via the Montana Street bulletin.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets