Addiction Alert
LAMPLIGHT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”
Psalm 119:105 (NIV).
“Living From the Eternal Perspective”
A Devotional From
PATHH Ministries
DATE:
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
HEADING
Addiction Alert
By Teddy A Jones
TEXT (Col. 3: 6)
It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.
But you know better now [MSG]
7You used to live that kind of sinful life.[ GW]
7Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices]. [AMP]
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. [NLT]
COMMENTARY
“Do you or anyone you know have a drug, drinking or gambling problem? Call the...” So runs a radio ad by one of the drug counselling services in Jamaica. Many years ago as a pre teen and young Disciple I listened to a sermon by a former JDF Colonel, who was serving in the police force in Grenada. I was flabbergasted when I heard him say that for many years after his conversion the old army habit of swearing was still dogging him. He had become addicted to swearing and it stayed with him into his walk with Christ until he sought and got help.
Alan Lang, in his "Substance Abuse and Habitual Behavior" report to the National Academy of Science, identifies nine such characteristics: Impulsive behavior,
Difficulty in delaying gratification, Sensation seeking,... Nonconformist values, Sense of alienation, Deviant behaviour... We all can identify with most if not all of these when we think of the life ruled by sin. But the picture becomes exponentially more disturbing when we are walking with Christ and we still feel the tension of what we once were and what are supposed to be now. The text is very clear in making the distinction between the two lives. There is no fuzziness or blur here. “You used to”... “you once walked”... “you were doing.”
The disciple then can’t appeal to addiction, can’t appeal to the undeniable strength of addictions, for now he/she knows better. Who knows better must do better. It is true that there are some who simple try to pass off such conduct with ‘it’s in the family,’ or ‘everyone knows that’s how I am,’ or ‘God will understand.’ The text does not afford us such latitude though. It calls for us to do whatever is necessary to break such strongholds.
Something to Meditate on:
What is/are my vice(s)?
A decision I need to make
Where will I go to seek help to break that habit/vice/addiction?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”
Psalm 119:105 (NIV).
“Living From the Eternal Perspective”
A Devotional From
PATHH Ministries
DATE:
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
HEADING
Addiction Alert
By Teddy A Jones
TEXT (Col. 3: 6)
It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.
But you know better now [MSG]
7You used to live that kind of sinful life.[ GW]
7Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices]. [AMP]
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. [NLT]
COMMENTARY
“Do you or anyone you know have a drug, drinking or gambling problem? Call the...” So runs a radio ad by one of the drug counselling services in Jamaica. Many years ago as a pre teen and young Disciple I listened to a sermon by a former JDF Colonel, who was serving in the police force in Grenada. I was flabbergasted when I heard him say that for many years after his conversion the old army habit of swearing was still dogging him. He had become addicted to swearing and it stayed with him into his walk with Christ until he sought and got help.
Alan Lang, in his "Substance Abuse and Habitual Behavior" report to the National Academy of Science, identifies nine such characteristics: Impulsive behavior,
Difficulty in delaying gratification, Sensation seeking,... Nonconformist values, Sense of alienation, Deviant behaviour... We all can identify with most if not all of these when we think of the life ruled by sin. But the picture becomes exponentially more disturbing when we are walking with Christ and we still feel the tension of what we once were and what are supposed to be now. The text is very clear in making the distinction between the two lives. There is no fuzziness or blur here. “You used to”... “you once walked”... “you were doing.”
The disciple then can’t appeal to addiction, can’t appeal to the undeniable strength of addictions, for now he/she knows better. Who knows better must do better. It is true that there are some who simple try to pass off such conduct with ‘it’s in the family,’ or ‘everyone knows that’s how I am,’ or ‘God will understand.’ The text does not afford us such latitude though. It calls for us to do whatever is necessary to break such strongholds.
Something to Meditate on:
What is/are my vice(s)?
A decision I need to make
Where will I go to seek help to break that habit/vice/addiction?
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