January 18 Readings: Genesis 37–38, Matthew 12:22–50, Psalms 10:12–18, Proverbs 2:11–12

Links to Today's Readings: Genesis 37–38, Matthew 12:22–50, Psalms10:12–18, Proverbs 2:11–12

In Matthew 12: 43-45, Jesus tells us about a man who has a demon cast out of him, who then makes a serious mistake. The demon is gone, but it travels around seeking a place to live. Finally, it decides to return to its former home. He finds that his old home - the heart of his former host - is swept clean, but is empty. Nothing has taken the place of the demon. So, seeing that, the demon goes out to find seven of his demon buddies and they return to set up a frat house in the man. Once freed of a demon, the man is now the host of many and is worse off than before. 

This story makes an important point. 

It is not enough just to get rid of the demon; the demon needs to be replaced. 

Let me broaden that point, beyond just demons and possessions and all of that. There is a message here for all of us in our Christian lives. We spend a lot of time battling the negative, fighting sin, struggling against temptation. All of that is important - the demon has to be exorcised. 

But true victory does not come just from facing the negative, from fighting what is evil. That evil needs to be replaced by what is good, by the presence and power of God. 

This is a practical issue. Many Christians, when they begin to get serious about their walk with the Lord, become increasingly aware of their sin and failure. That is a work of the Spirit within us. We realize that we fall short, that without God we can do nothing - that we are unworthy of all he does for us. So, we fight sin. And for some people, it becomes an unhealthy fixation. The focus of their walk with God becomes avoiding this temptation and that sin. 

But Jesus wants to do more than just clean out the old mess that was your life. He wants to rebuild it into something new. Godliness is not just avoiding sin, it is becoming more like God. It is not just saying no to sexual immorality and impurity, it is building a heart of passion for God. It is not just about avoiding materialism, it is about storing up treasures in heaven. It is not just about deny self, but is about taking up your cross to follow Jesus. It is not just about resisting sin in your life, but about leading other to the righteousness you have found in Christ. 

Oh, yes, you must fight sin. The flesh will be with you as long as you breath air. Resist the devil. Say no to sin. But do not ever think that is enough. As you say no to sin, you must also say yes to God, to the transformed life; the life of love, joy and peace that the Spirit will produce in you, to the life of service and ministry. 

Remember, Jesus did not JUST die. He died, but then he ROSE AGAIN as Lord of all. And we are called not only to die to sin, but to rise to walk in the newness of life. 

Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son to deal with my sin. But having died with Christ, may I now also rise to the new life you have given to me through him. When sin returns to my life, may it find my head occupied by your Word, my heart focused on Jesus Christ and my body filled with the Holy Spirit.