“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:5-8

Dear Jesus, I see how serious you are about sin. I can almost hear you saying these words with urgency. There are no pet sins. Sin is no pet. It’s a wolf trying to kill me. You give me the love and strength to kick sin out of my life. I must confess that because my generation and the media it produces makes light of all sin, I am easily lulled into thinking that immorality and coarse language are not that bad. But they are bad. They destroy lives and distort humanity into something you never intended. I find it thought provoking and enlightening that you tell me here that all these sins are idolatry, that is worship of self, or humanity, or of sensuality instead of worship of you. You even call my proneness to anger a sin that I can avoid. I know I’m forgiven for falling into these sins. Your grace gives me peace and peace gives me strength to fight the good fight again today. I will say, “No” to my sins today and beg for your help seeing them for what they are and for the strength in your Spirit to kick them out of my life. Help my family and Christian friends to do the same. Amen.

Take as much caution to protect your soul from sin as you do your home from intruders.