Threads of Sin Develop into Chains of Bondage

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” 

PROVERBS 5:21-23

 

PONDER THIS

What are the consequences of immorality? Why does God say it is folly? Because God knows sin is costly. Sin does not pay. We look at sin for what we can get if we do it, but God sees it and knows the cost. A man I knew had one of the most beautiful homes in this city and one of the finest families. He professed to be a Christian but started to become close to a coworker. Before long those threads of flirtation were woven into a cord and then into chain of bondage. I did all that I could do, but I could not stop this man.

Today, that man has lost his business. Today, that man has lost his family. Today, that man has lost his home. Today, that man has lost his reputation. He has lost his children. Sin only tells you what you will gain. When we come to God, when we look at His Word and listen to His wisdom, He reveals what sin costs.

How have you seen the cost of sin in your life?

How does following God’s Word and ways help us see this cost in advance?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess and repent specific areas of sin to God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You in Financial Bondage?

 

PRAY OVER THIS

“Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!”

Proverbs 23:4

 

PONDER THIS

You are in financial bondage if you have a desire to get rich quickly. We tell a young person, “Make all the money you can, so long as you make it honestly.” That’s bad advice. A man who’s making all the money he can is going to be making money when he should be praying, soul-winning, witnessing, or going fishing. He’s in bondage. Feel sorry for the man whose goal is to be rich. Your goal should be to live for the Lord. The Bible says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” If wealth is what motivates you, you’re in financial bondage. You’re in financial bondage if you don't have treasure in Heaven.

You may call it your house or your car, but fifty or one hundred years from now, somebody else will hold possession of it. Isn’t that true? We only have earthly possessions for a little while and we’re stewards. All areas of your life, including your finances, should be used for God’s glory.

What are some ways you might be in bondage to money?

How does Jesus offer freedom from this?

PRACTICE THIS

Consider what place money has in your life. Discuss with another friend ideas on how you can use money for God’s glory.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

How Does Egypt Represent Bondage?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:13

 

PONDER THIS

In the Passover, God was going to use a lamb to deliver His people. His people were in the land of Egypt. In the Bible, Egypt stands for bondage. It stands for the world, the flesh, and the devil. Pharaoh is a type, a picture, and an illustration of the devil. Now Pharaoh had a crown, and on his crown was a serpent. Look at some of those ancient Egyptian pictures and you’ll see a serpent coiled up there on his crown. That’s the symbol of Egypt.

On one side, you have the serpent. On the other, you have the lamb. But it’s the lamb who was going to defeat the serpent. That’s what Passover was all about. God was going to bring His people from the land of bondage, from the land of wickedness, from the land of sin, and from the land of cruelty. He was going to deliver them, and He would do it with a Passover lamb.

The image of the lamb defeating the serpent illustrates the “upside-down” nature of God’s kingdom. What other biblical examples can you think of that illustrate this?

How has God brought you from the land of bondage through Jesus, the Lamb of God?

PRACTICE THIS

Spend time in prayer today, thanking God for Jesus, the Lamb who saves God’s people from bondage.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Jesus Delivered Us From Bondage

PRAY OVER THIS

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15

 

PONDER THIS

There are three things that Jesus did for us when He came to Earth to deliver us from bondage, and three kinds of bondage that He delivered us from. Number one, He delivered us from the bondage of spiritual death. Those who are not in Christ are spiritually dead. It’s not that they are spiritually sick; they are spiritually dead. But Jesus Christ made us “alive together with Him” (Colossians 2:13).

He also delivered us from the bondage of staggering debt. Our sins are a debt that must be paid. Heaven has sued us for damages, and we are in debt because of our sin. Now, what did Jesus Christ do on the cross? He paid the debt (See Colossians 2:14.)—Jesus paid it all!

Finally, He delivered us from the bondage of satanic dominion. Colossians 2:15 talks not only about what Jesus did for us but also about what He did to Satan. He ruined Satan. Jesus didn’t just defeat the principalities and powers of evil, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in His death upon the cross.

Which of these three ways Jesus freed His people from bondage stands out most to you?

Where do you still feel in bondage? How might you look to Jesus to free you today?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time to tell another person about the way Jesus has freed you from spiritual bondage.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers