The other day I was out with a couple, friends of mine. He is a committed smoker. This time for coffee he said that he wishes he could stop smoking. So I cautiously and gently asked him Do you believe that it is WRONG to smoke? He said emphatically that he knows it is wrong, that he knows exactly what he is doing is WRONG. I replied that many people have not come to see it as wrong, and I asked him if he would like to be able to stop. He passionately said yes he would. Then I asked him if he knew that by doing wrong things that these wrong things will keep him out of heaven. I saw the realization in him of this made him fearful and anxious for his soul. From there I explained that God gave us free will and that when we make the wrong choices repeatedly, it strengthens the craving so that it influences the will, but if he begins making choices to resist the craving, it will become easier to overcome it. He was made to see that he must decide to make a break with it and remove items that are sources of temptation. I believe he came to see that the craving was not sin, but to choose to indulge it is what constitutes sin. I told him about the Holy Spirit and how He is given to those who obey Him and that Jesus did not merely resist temptation to be an example, but so that he could give us his power to help us if we commit to doing what is right. Lets pray for Joe that he doesnt resist the Holy Spirit. Witnessing on that level was like walking on eggshells as I did not want to interfere with God convicting him or by arousing my friends anger either. Thanks, believers!
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:34:58 +0000
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