It's ok to shed a few pounds, but not in a way that dupes other people. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary Swindlers, cheats, and con men are not a modern phenomenon. Using deceitful tactics to take advantage of others unfortunately has been a common practice all throughout history, enough so that it was addressed in the Law of Moses. Deuteronomy 25:13-16 speaks to a time before digital scales or prepackaged goods. Many transactions during this period used weights and measures to determine the correct weight of a product, such as a certain amount of spice. This system worked well enough when merchants and traders were honest in their dealings, however this system was also ripe for exploitation. When Moses speaks against carrying two kinds of weights, a large and a small, this is not a matter of size but of weight. Dishonest parties would take advantage of the system of weights and measures by having two different weights that look identical but one would be heavier than the other. The lighter weight would be used when selling to give less product than the transaction demanded. The same trick was also done in reverse when buying, the heavier weight would be used to dishonestly gain more product than was agreed upon. Though these tactics could create a financial benefit for those willing to sacrifice their morals, Moses warns that those who act in such a dishonest way are an abomination to God. Dig Deeper The type of deception that Moses warned against feels all too common still today. A glaring example of this is the New York City commercial real estate market. Despite being illegal, it has become common practice for real estate companies to intentionally list commercial real estate as being much larger in terms of square footage than what is true. Despite the outcry from business owners looking to lease storefronts at a fair price, the practice continues because the real estate companies charge by the square foot and by faking the numbers, they can demand higher rent. Much like the false weights of Moses’ day, this practice takes advantage of those who are unwilling or unable to verify the claims for themselves. Moses speaks to more than just the misuse of measures for dishonest gain. In verse 16 he clarifies that not only is he speaking against those who use dishonest weights but all who act dishonestly. The weights are but an example of the multitude of ways that people will lie and cheat to get ahead. As the Catechism reminds us, these kinds of manipulative practices are forbidden by God and are a violation of the 8th commandment. In using dishonest weights, merchants were stealing a little from their trade partners in every transaction. The same is true for the multitude of ways that people lie and cheat to get ahead today. Even if the theft is something small and no one around will notice, God does. Each business transaction, no matter if it is a multi-million-dollar real estate deal or something as small as a pack of gum, is an opportunity to remain faithful to God through a commitment to honest practices. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD our God, who detests all dishonesty; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will resist the temptation to cut corners or take shortcuts at the expense of others; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 3

Ill gotten gain will spoil quickly, so build up your treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary There are many ways that someone can be guilty of theft. In today’s passage, James speaks out against wealthy landowners who fraudulently held back wages from those who labored in their fields. This action is declared to be an act of fraud, and as James warns, the cries of the harvesters who have been wronged are heard by God. This act of theft is seen as an intentional action to fraudulently grow one’s wealth at the expense of the less fortunate. The Old Covenant law made provisions for guaranteeing the timely payment of a worker’s wage. James’ warning against the withholding of wages echoes what is recorded in Deuteronomy 24:15, “15 You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.” This shows how even things that stop short of theft, such as an unnecessary delay in pay, are sinful because of the harm they cause to those who are counting on those wages. Dig Deeper Just because you can get away with something does not mean you should. In fact, our actions should be directed by what is right, not what we can get away with. There are various cities around the United States who have determined to not prosecute theft under a certain dollar amount. The outcome of these policies has been an increase of shoplifting and “smash and grabs” as more people feel emboldened to commit these types of crime knowing that they will not be prosecuted. However, avoiding prosecution in the criminal justice system does not mean you have gotten away free and clear. Just as the cries of the laborers were heard by the Lord of hosts, so too are the cries of victims of theft today. As James warned those who sought ill-gotten gains during his time, when you sacrifice your morals for earthly treasures you are choosing that which will decay and perish over that which truly lasts. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD Almighty, whose ears hear those who cry out to Him; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God that you (likely) are treated honestly in your work, and pray that you will prioritize righteousness above worldly gain; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 2

You're probably not a thief, but the temptation to steal comes often! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary The 8th Commandment, you shall not steal, is rather ambiguous in its meaning. We are directed to not steal, yet the object of that theft is not defined. There is intentionality in this ambiguity, for what is being outlawed is not one type of theft but a whole spectrum of things that fall into the category of stealing. The laws in the United States outlaw various forms of theft and the punishment for each of these offenses varies based upon the severity of the crime. This is also the case with the Old Testament law, where the restitution necessary for an act of theft will vary depending on the circumstances. There are many instances in the Old Testament where the restitution to be made for stealing is double what was taken. There are also some specific circumstances, such as with livestock, where the punishment is more severe. An example of this can be found in Exodus 22:1, “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” Instead of doubling the amount stolen, a stolen ox demands 5x and a stolen sheep 4x restitution. While all forms of theft are a violation of the 8th commandment, the consequences may vary based upon the circumstances. Dig Deeper There are many types of theft that fall under the umbrella of the 8th commandment. At different times I’ve had money, property, or bank card information stolen from me. These types of theft are more obvious than other ways the people violate the 8th commandment. Robbing a bank is clearly theft, yet there are other ways that people steal that are not as obvious. Over the next couple days we will review some of these examples from scripture and the catechism. Not all forms of theft are on the same level as grand theft auto or an Oceans 11 type of heist, however we are called to be faithful in all matters, in that which is both big and small. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whose very character defines honesty and truth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be able to avoid the shortcuts in life that stealing might give you; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 1

Adultery wreaks havoc over every dimension of life. Stop it before it starts. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 109 Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires. Summary Adultery wreaks such havoc because it always involves multiple sins. This passage in Proverbs helps demonstrate that committing adultery violates not just the one particular command, but every commandment in the second table of the law: 5th Commandment: adultery forsakes our father's command and mother's teaching (v20) 6th Commandment: those who commit adultery "have no sense... and destroy [kill] themselves" (v32) 7th Commandment: Adultery itself, which is precipitated by lust (v25) 8th Commandment: In adultery, one person steals the spouse of another (v24, 26, 29, 30-32) 9th Commandment: Adultery is rooted in and perpetuated by lies and falsehoods, and those caught in it will never be fully trusted again (v33) 10th Commandment: The Old Testament word for covet is the same word the New Testament uses for lust. Verse 25, which reads "do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes" can also be translated "do not covet in your heart..." Dig Deeper Adultery begins long before two people physically come together. This is why the catechism warns against "looks, talk, thoughts or desires" that "incite unchastity." Jesus teaches this concept in the Sermon on the Mount when He states that a man who "looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus goes on to warn that because of the danger that this sin includes you must get rid of everything that cause you to "stumble," even if that means gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand (Matthew 5:27-30). Of course Jesus is using hyperbole in His warning, otherwise our churches would be full of blind people with no hands. What He means, and what the Proverbs and our Catechism reinforce, is that you need to get rid of whatever it is that causes temptation in your life. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has called us out of a life of lust and into a full covenantal commitment with the Triune God; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Since it's impossible for you to separate yourself from every source of temptation, pray that God will strengthen your heart so you can keep yourself from lusting after the things of this world; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 5

Since sex causes so many problems, wouldn't it be better for Christians to avoid it altogether? Nope. CONTEXT: If you've not yet read yesterday's post, read it first to understand why today's passage makes what seem to be very unpopular claims. Remember, you are not your own but belong in body and soul to your faithful Savior. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 Q. What is God’s will for us in the seventh commandment? A. God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore thoroughly detest it and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives. Summary This difficult, awkward passage comes as a response to a particular question the Corinthian church had posed to Paul. Since human sexuality is so easily abused and has so much potential to drag people into sin, wondered the Corinthians, wouldn't it be better for Christians to just completely stay away from sexual activity altogether? Paul's answer - inspired by the Holy Spirit - is a definitive 'no.' Human sexuality is a physical, psychological, and emotional need that God wove into the fabric of humanity, so people who live within the proper context - a formally recognized, monogamous relationship between a man and woman - must continue to give expression to that which God has designed for them. Just as this passage must be read in the very particular context it was written to address, you must also keep in mind that this is not the Bible's - or even Paul's - only definition of what marriage ought to look like. Verse 9 makes marriage seem like it's merely an institution for those who lack sexual self control, as if total abstinence is the ideal and marriage is a compromise for those who can't resist, while the super-spiritual among us remain celibate. Yet the instruction for both husbands and wives to yield control of their own bodies to the other only makes sense in the context of what Paul wrote to the Ephesians, where he recognizes that marriage is an analogy for Christ's relationship to His bride, the Church. When wives submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Christ, and husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, then the loving, mutual physical submission Paul instructs here is possible. Dig Deeper Most people in our society - including many Christians - have a deeply flawed understanding of what marriage is and ought to be. Some selfishly see it as a mechanism to make themselves happy, so it's easy to see how such a person could abuse the other with demands to give over their body. But the flip side of that doesn't work any better: in which the purpose of marriage is to make they other person happy. Though this certainly seems more altruistic, this goal is also doomed to failure, since what it takes to continually please other people is a moving target that's very hard to hit. This attitude can lead to sexual abuse when one partner continually gives up more bodily autonomy than the other in order to make the other partner happy. But when both partners share the Biblical goal for marriage to glorify God by living according to His design, they will not only be able to fully enjoy their sexuality as God intends, but they will also come to know their Savior in a much deeper way as they love and submit to one another. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who created all things good, including human sexuality; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that whether you're married or single, that your goal will be to glorify God by living according to His design for the context He's placed you in; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 4

Your body is not your own, but has been bought with a price. This is good news! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 109 (We'll finish out QA 108 tomorrow) Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires. Summary We understand that a thing's purpose determines how it gets used. A fine flower vase with lots intricate details can certainly hold water, but it's not meant to be used like an ordinary bucket. In other words, just because something can be used a certain way, it doesn't mean that it ought to be used in that way. Such is the case with your body. The tired old argument that people ought to be able to do as they please with their bodies is nothing new; Paul begins this passage with sayings from Romans culture that make the same claim we hear so often today, that the only people who have a right to determine what I do physically are Me, Myself and I. Paul then drops a stunning claim - a claim that people know is true but which often gets suppressed down deep so as not to ruin the party: your body is not your own. You did not make your body; you did not breathe life into it; and you are not the one who has determined your body's ultimate purpose, and therefore you don't have the right to define its acceptable uses. Paul's makes his point obvious: "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord (v13)." Therefore, your body is not to be used sexually outside of God's prescribed norms, which we'll review tomorrow. Paul adds emphasis to his point. Not only must you not do sexually immoral things, but you must flee from all forms of sexual immorality. The primary purpose of your body determines how it must be used, the purpose which rises above all of your own ideas, opinions and beliefs, is that your body "is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God." Dig Deeper Our focus reading the Bible this year has been the comfort and peace possible by knowing that "you are not your own, but belong to your faithful Savior, Jesus Christ." These words have brought immense solace and reassurance to countless Christians for hundreds of years now. If you don't have this memorized already, you should. But this claim is not just true on Sundays, or when you really need to be reminded in a difficult time that God is in control, rather this fundamental fact is always in effect and is completely comprehensive in its nature: you are not your own but belong to Christ body and soul, in life and in death. In other words, your body belongs to Christ in all ways and in all times. This famous opening line of the Heidelberg Catechism is not just a cheesy, sentimental statement to hang on your wall. It helps define and clarify your purpose in life. You belong to Christ in every way possible. And since purpose determines usage, it gives you a solid rationale for living according to a Biblically faithful sexual ethic. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who knew you before creation and chose you to be His own, knit your body together in your mother's womb, and who has set you apart to be a temple for His Holy Spirit; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God for the fortitude to live according to His sexual design for your body in a world that constantly tries to tear you away from it; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 3

Learn to hate the temptations constantly surrounding you. They only lead to destruction. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 Q. What is God’s will for us in the seventh commandment? A. God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore thoroughly detest it and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives. Summary The first two Psalms in the Psalter were not placed there randomly. They form an executive summary of sorts for the 148 psalms that follow them. They beautifully describe who you were created to be, and even more so, these two psalms describe the One who made your salvation possible. From the very first word, it becomes clear that God wants you to live a blessed life, that is, a life of happiness and joy. So it shouldn't be surprising that nearly everyone who's ever lived has a deep and longing desire to be happy. The problem, of course, is that most of the world has rejected God's good design for obtaining blessedness, and instead has followed the wicked way of the original mocker, Satan. This is the massively consequential choice you must make every moment of every day: will you walk, stand, and sit in their company, or will you delight in meditating upon the law of the Lord? The ugly truth is that everything this sinful world glamorizes and that appears so attractive will blow away like chaff. Notice the contrast between the first and final words: God created you for blessedness, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Dig Deeper Most of the time, people don't immediately jump from one extreme to the other. In other words, they don't go from being planted by streams of righteousness to sitting in the company of mockers in one fell swoop. Rather, the transition occurs subtly - although the process can easily accelerate quickly and without warning! First you just sort of walk alongside the wicked, then your presence becomes more permanent as you stand amongst the sinners, until you've finally completely transplanted yourself and you sit down in the company of mockers. One of the most insidious traps that can ensnare you in this web is sexual temptation. It's constantly invading our minds and thoughts through nearly every media possible. And even worse, in so many ways, we have become completely tolerant of it. We still watch the movies, tune into the shows, and listen to the music as if somehow we're immune to the same temptation that has claimed billions of others. The Bible NEVER encourages tolerance for sin - especially sexual sin. Quite the opposite: Psalm 139 teaches you to hate those who hate the Lord. Jude 23 instructs you to hate everything associated with sinful desires and temptation. Keep your roots firmly planted in the streams of Living Water and turn off every source of temptation trying to trick you into walking, standing and sitting in that which your Savior died to save you from. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD, who watches over the way of the righteous; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the strength and godly desire to remain rooted in the good ground God's planted you in, and that God will kindle a growing hatred for sin and temptation within you; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 2

This chapter will make you squirm, but you must be aware of God's righteous requirements. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 Q. What is God’s will for us in the seventh commandment? A. God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore thoroughly detest it and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives. Summary Leviticus 18 is one of those passages that evokes a host of different responses in people. For some, it confirms their ideas that the Bible is nothing but a book of prudish rules. Others focus on one particular type of sexual relationship prohibited in this passage and are quite angry with those who practice it, but don't seem to care about the way so many other relationships mentioned in this chapter are flaunted. Still others develop elaborate explanations about how these commands were for the people of God way back then, but not now. After all, the God of love must be all for love, no matter how some people choose to express it. Sadly, most people simply ignore passages like Leviticus 18. It's just uncomfortable and weird. They'd rather just stick to the warm and fuzzy stuff. Certainly this would not be one of the first chapters we'd go to with a person just learning about Christianity, or to bring comfort to a saint in their dying moments. But yet this passage is critical knowledge for those who wish to live into their citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. The opening and closing paragraphs underscore the importance of the chaste living this chapter commands. First, as God's people, we must realize that we've been rescued from the defiled and detestable mass of humanity identified by their deviant sexualities, just as God had rescued Israel from the pagan Egyptians and Canaanites. Since we've been set free in Christ, we have a continuing obligation to "keep the Lord's decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them (v5)." Since we've been made holy in Christ, understanding that 'holy' means separated (Lev. 20:26), we must separate ourselves from worldly sexual ethics and "cut off" those in our number who stubbornly persist in the "detestable things" mentioned in this chapter (v29-30). Dig Deeper Unfortunately, Q&A 108 of the Heidelberg Catechism has been the most talked about portion of our Confessions in the Christian Reformed Church these last few years. This is unfortunate, not because the topic of human sexuality ought to be hush-hush or ignored, but because it's become increasingly clear that so many in these conversations - especially those arguing for more acceptance of deviant sexual lifestyles - seem ignorant of or have detached themselves from so many of the other critical Biblical doctrines our Confessions summarize. In other words, the best way to equip people to come to correct conclusions regarding sexuality is to make sure they have a comprehensive understanding of Christianity. You need to have a firm grip on the sexual ethics communicated in Leviticus 18, even as uncomfortable and unpopular as what these concepts are in our society. The best way to tighten your grip is to strengthen your understanding of how it is that you've been made holy in Christ and set apart to glorify our God and Father. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father who righteously demands that we keep His requirements; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will understand and live according to God's sexual standards, and that you'll become increasingly aware of what it means to be made holy; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 1

Normally paying off debt is good... but not always! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 107 Q. Is it enough then that we do not kill our neighbor in any such way? A. No. By condemning envy, hatred, and anger God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly to them, to protect them from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies. Summary One of the best feelings in life is to finally pay off a long standing debt. Once the debt is satisfied, you can spend the money you had been using for payments for whatever you want. We often apply this same principle to our relationships. If someone does you a favor, you're indebted to them until you reciprocate. Once you're even again, you can use your time however you'd like. The Bible has no room for such an attitude. Since loving others is the fulfillment of the law, and love "is not self-seeking" and "keeps no record (1 Cor. 13:5)," you'll never completely fulfill God's law. You'll always be seeking to reflect the holiness of God that the law points to in the lives of those you have relationships with. In that sense, be glad to let this debt to one another never be paid in full. As Jesus teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount, the Law is much more than a collection of do-nots. In other words, although not killing people who cross you will keep you out of trouble with the civil law, you will not have fully complied with the sixth commandment until you "love your neighbor as yourself." Dig Deeper One of the major truths of the Bible comes near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus indicates that the righteousness of His disciples must surpass that of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:17). We understand this doctrine two ways. First, praise God that Jesus has already fulfilled your coventantal obligation to perfectly abide by God's Law. In this way, everyone who trusts in Christ alone has the all surpassing righteousness that God requires from those He's in communion with. Secondly, the grace that included you in the righteousness of Christ also equips you to live out all of the implications of God's law. In this way, you're personal righteousness must surpass the Pharisees. Whereas they were content to just follow the letter of the law, you must make every effort to not only avoid breaking the commandments, but also look for ways to love those around you in every situation you face. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father who calls us to love others the way that He loves us; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will see opportunities to love your neighbor as yourself and have the desire to follow through; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 3 John

There's no neutral in life. You're either building up or tearing down. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 106 Q. Does the fifth commandment refer only to killing? A. By forbidding murder God teaches us that he hates the root of murder: envy, hatred, anger, vindictiveness. In God’s sight all such are murder. Summary In many ways, the Sermon on the Mount is the defining blueprint for the Christian life. Jesus teaches that we must have surpassing righteousness, a feat we're not capable of on our own, but which He supplies on our behalf. Although this gift is pure grace, it does come with strings attached: we're now expected to live and look like the perfectly righteous people we've been declared to be. Not only does grace declare us to be righteous and holy, but it also equips us to live accordingly. This means that we no longer view God's law as a black and white list of do's and don'ts, but rather we're to align our attitudes with the Law's underlying principles of godliness. It's these foundational principles that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount and elsewhere that Paul continues to build on in passages like what we're reading today. In this light, murder is not just an act that takes a person's physical life, but it's anything that is not "helpful for building others up according to their needs." This means that murder weapons have expanded from things like guns and knives to attitudes and behaviors like "bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, and every form of malice." Dig Deeper Anybody who's watched any sort of home improvement or remodeling show knows that the first step of a rebab project is demo day, where the old is torn out so the new can be installed. This is the entire premise of this chapter in Ephesians: your old sinful self must be removed so you can come to new life in Christ. Unlike the remodel project where demo day comes and goes, demolishing is an ongoing project for you as often new sins creep in and recontaminate areas you thought you'd already cleaned out. Paul often uses violent language to describe this ongoing process: you are to put to death the misdeeds of the body (Romans 8:13). But this license to kill comes with a significant restriction: for the most part, you must always be the victim. There certainly are times where it's not only appropriate but necessary for you to help others identify and kill off the sin in their lives, but those times are limited and must be done with great wisdom. Your words, thoughts and attitudes will always result in one extreme or the other: they will either build others up in Christ, or they will "grieve the Holy Spirit of God," as murderous behaviors like bitterness, rage, brawling and slander tear others apart. In general, keep your killing limited to your own sinful self (Sarx), and take advantage of the nearly limitless opportunities to build others up with wholesome talk, kindness and compassion. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father who has forgiven you in Christ; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your thoughts, words and deeds will build others up, even as you kill off the indwelling sin in your own life; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 2 John