Breaking the cycle: Abandoning sin

Hebrews 12:1-3 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Matthew 18:8-9 | So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

• How can sin keep a follower of God from being devoted to Him?

• What sin trips you up often?

• How are you fighting against the temptation to sin in those ways? How do your strategies compare to the ones in Matthew 18 [Are you ‘cutting off’ the opportunity to sin again]?

• What can you do to abandon this sin once and for all?