Does God have a 12-step program for sin? Glad you asked.

Acts 3:19

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Luke 13:3

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Acts 17:30

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent,

2 Chronicles 7:14

if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 3:8

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 3:2

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Romans 2:4

Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?o

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy

It works when applied. Give it some thought.

Gary

When we were kids, we enjoyed playing tricks on traffic at night. We would place a large wrench in the highway just over a hill. The driver would spot it, but by the time he stopped and backed up, we would have retrieved the wrench. This would leave the individual scratching his head or wanting to kill someone.

Deception was a lot of fun for us, but not for the recipient of our cruel joke. Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Galatians 6:7-8 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Be careful of those out there trying to deceive you. What you see might be a trick.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Almost every house has at least one of them and usually it rusts from lack of use. It’s called a piece of exercise equipment. It’s of more value in drying clothes than producing a buffed body. You see, for exercise to produce the necessary results, it requires much time and effort. You will still die, but with a terrific body. Here’s something much better, but also requires much time and commitment.

1 Timothy 4:8 

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Set a goal for godliness and workout every day. Eternity is at stake.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The princess and the frog fairy tale portrays a mentality in which, when you kiss a frog, a prince is revealed.   A problem is resolved.

When I was young, we were told not to play with frogs because we would get warts. Poor frogs, none of this is true about them. However, there is someone who needs to be kissed.

Psalm 2:12 

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

Kisses usually indicate a close relationship. Have you kissed Him?

Give it some thought.

Gary

This particular sunny morning finds me traveling alone on a deserted highway, doing 70 in a 50.  (Now that’s both illegal and a sin.) Out of habit, I would sometimes glance at my rearview mirror. One of those glances revealed a state trooper on my bumper. I said to myself, you’re not going to change your speed and look more like an idiot than you are now. We traveled in tandem for about ten miles when he passed and slowed down to 50 mph. This went on for about ten minutes until I turned unto another highway. I was left scratching my head and asking, “What was that all about?”

There are folks out there who can be very direct and point out the law or just provide a friendly reminder, thinking that that might be lesson enough. That’s what Jesus did for the woman caught in adultery.

John 8:7

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

Sometimes that person just needs a break and you have the power to give it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I took a very difficult test in kindergarten. The question had three balls and a bicycle and I had to circle the one that didn’t belong. It didn’t make sense to me at the time. However, as life went on, I realized life was made-up of choices – what belongs and what doesn’t belong. That question was foundational, and after sixty-seven years, I still need to apply that principle.

Joshua 24:15

 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 30:15

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.

If you want to enter the first grade, you must pass the tests.

Give it some thought.

Gary

 Toby Keith sang, “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”  To listen to it, you might have to consume some beer or marijuana and be running from God as quickly as you can. Toby made an exorbitant amount of money, experienced great fame, and sang about keeping God out. He left this world for another February 5, 2024, and I wonder how he feels about this song now.

Don’t let the old man in,
I wanna leave this alone.
Can’t leave it up to him,
He’s knocking on my door.

And I knew all of my life,
That someday it would end.
Get up and go outside,
Don’t let the old man in.

What does the Bible have to say about this philosophy? Glad you asked.

Luke 12:19-20

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

Give it some consideration before God takes you into account for calling Him names.

Gary