September 14                                   Ps 1 - 3

ADDICTED?

MEMORISE: 'Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey' whether of sin unto death, or of obedience Unto righteousness?' (Rom 6:16)
READ: Romans 6:11-18

Today many people are addicted to all kinds of things: drugs, music, drinking, television, newspapers, jewelers, video games, the Internet, education. Whatever you are addicted to determines where your time, financial resources, and efforts in life will be channeled. Some of the things we are addicted to are good. Some are bad. Others are in -between. Behind every addiction, there are spirits propelling the addicted person on: and when you are addicted to something, it can also affect several other things in your life. For instance, a man who is addicted to pools betting or gambling would feel compelled by demons to continue to spend his earnings in the same way. In the process, his family starves and he cannot live comfortably. Even when he realizes the negative consequences of his habit for his family, he may not be able to disengage, because the demons will tell him he may hit the jackpot the next time.

'Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?' (Rom 6:16) a child that is addicted to television or games can be sure his academic and domestic duties will suffer. A jeweler addict may soon find her decorations a 'god' to her. She will feel incomplete without bedecking herself. What ever you are addicted to can determine your future, both here and in eternity.

Anyone addicted to sin will reap death as eternal wages (Rom 6: 23). And right here on earth the person will suffer. For instance, a smoker will get cancer of the lungs and other smoke- related diseases. A fornicator, apart from unwanted pregnancy, may contact HIV/AIDS and die prematurely; a drug addict could become insane or live in abject poverty. What are you addicted to? How is that addiction affecting you today? Are you abdicated to sleep, pleasure or food? These can render you poor and useless to the Kingdom of God. Break those addictions today through repentance, obedience and yield totally to the Lord and his word.

ACTION POINT
Pray that every unwholesome addiction in your life be consumed by fire
And that God will help you to be strong in self-control.