Reflection
- (Col 3:5 ESV) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
- (Col 3:6 ESV) On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
- (Col 3:7 ESV) In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
- (Col 3:8 ESV) But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Discussion
We have recently obtained two small dogs from situations that were less than healthy. Both dogs are sweet and playful, but they also both have some negative habits. Slowly we are trying to train those old habits out of them by reinforcing positive behaviors.
Replacement behavior and positive reinforcement are good tools to help not only dogs grow out of bad habits, they can be helpful for people as well. Maybe you have experienced this in your life when trying to stop a bad habit or start a good one. When we find reward in something it will train us to repeat that – whether the behavior is good or bad. Replacing a bad habit with a good one can be trained in the same way.
One thing that has helped me over the years is to replace a negative behavior with reading the Word of God. It might sound silly, but pulling out my phone and reading the Bible on it instead of doing something sinful does actually work. Sure, it takes some self-control and a desire to change, but there is nothing more transformative in our lives that the Word of God. Try it. If there is a habit in your life that you know needs to go, replace it with reading the Bible.
Connection
What is a bad habit you kept in the old life before your conversion to Christ?
What has helped you overcome sinful behavior in the past?
How can the church help you to strive to be better going forward?
How can sharing your experience with others help to guide them to a life pleasing to God?
Expansion
The Scriptures
The Bible is the inspired Word of God given to His people and revealed by the Holy Spirit. It is complete and without error in its content and given to individual believers with the intent of instructing them in who God is and transforming their lives according to His will.
Exodus 24:4, 1 Thes 2:13,2 Peter 1:19-21, John 17:13-17, 1 Cor 2:7-15, 1 John 2:20, John 16:12-13, Deuteronomy 4:2, Ps 19:7, Isa 40:8, Matthew 24:35, Luke 21:33, John 10:35, Matthew 5:18, Luke 24:44, Exodus 24:7, Deuteronomy 4:1, Ps 119:9-16, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 5:19, Romans 15:4, Colossians 3:16, Romans 16:25-27