When people get hurt, they won't hesitate to have shrapnel and debris removed for their wounds. Sin is debris in the soul, and like the physical type, if left untreated it can fester and spread infection. God reminds us, "for sin will not rule over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14)
Let's live up to that and scrub out the sin.
"For the entire Law is fulfilled in in this one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."—Gal 5:14
Filtering by Category: Peer Pressure
Peer pressure.
Barnabas was a good man according to God, but sometimes our greatest strengths can be our greatest weaknesses. Are you tender-hearted? People may take advantage of you. Are you tough as nails? You may drive people away with your aggressiveness. Galatians 2:11 says,
"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that EVEN BARNABAS was carried away by their hypocrisy."
A lesson learned here is that peer pressure is powerful, and Satan makes terrifyingly good use of it. Sometimes to help us overcome peer pressure, we need our spiritual battle buddies to give us some tough love. Make sure you're willing to receive a little stern love, and not too proud to admit that you're wrong. (I have to a lot. wink emoticon )