Yesterday I was talking with my Mom about different vices people use & cling to. She asked me to define "vice". I thought a moment and couldn't do it. Lol, I could only give examples. I told her I would look it up and share. This morning, it was one of the 1st things the Lord placed on my heart.
A vice is, "a moral weakness" or "a specific form of evildoing." How many of us ever thought of a vice in this way?
Immediately, the Lord reminded me of the Apostle Paul. He said, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." 2 Corinthians 12:7
There are many who believe his "thorn in the flesh" was a physical impairment. I believe it was some kind of vice. Looking at the definition of vice, it could be he had a human fleshly weakness.
Are we to justify ourselves if the Lord is dealing with us in a specific area of our sin nature? Certainly not! This should provoke us to prayerfully ponder if we are allowing our fleshly wants/desires more than pleasing the Father above. After all, there are rewards or consequences.
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Romans 8:13
In following Jesus, we are to deny ourselves, carry our cross daily and follow Jesus. Despite the "vice", we must live for Christ!
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Are we willing to examine ourselves, and honestly seek the Lord regarding whatever vice we may have. If it's truly evil doing, it is sin! Are we feeding the flesh with our own vice, is it truly a "thorn in the flesh" or an excuse to have as we please?
