Know That You're Not Missing Anything by Doing Things God's Way

2 Peter 1:3-4 (King Kames Version):

3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:3-4 (The Message Version):
3 -4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

Word in Action:
Stop focusing so much on what you have to give up in order to be a Christian or to "serve" God. Thinking that way takes the joy out of the Christian experience. Yes, it is true that as Christians we should abstain from behavior that does not please God. However, through scripture, God promises that he divinely gives us ALL things that pertain to life AND godliness. So what does that mean? To me, it means that we can enjoy ourselves while continuing to model ourselves after Jesus. It is up to us to allow God to show us how to access that perfect blend of recognizing that we live in this world but have a responsibility to live by the Word.

Ask God to show you the things you wish you did not have to give up in order to live according to the Word. Examples could include premarital sex, excessive alcohol intake, lying, etc. Then, ask Him to show you how to fill those voids with godly things. Contrary to what we might think, the Christian life is not sacrificial – it is fruitful. Jesus is the only one who made the true sacrifice and He did it just for you!