Overcoming addictions -- Today's Devotion from Mike MacIntosh

And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. - Mark 15:22-23

When Jesus was led up to the place where He would be put to death, I find it interesting that the soldiers would offer Him wine and myrrh to drink. These people hated Jesus, yet they still offered him a drug and a sedative so that He wouldn't feel the excruciating pain. Clearly, even the soldiers knew that of all the methods of execution ever devised, crucifixion was the worst. But Jesus did not take their drugs. Why? Because had He done so, He wouldn't have experienced the agony of the cross. He wouldn't have taken on the pain of our sins.

You see, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sin and our sins. He not only died on that cross to pay for our sin, but suffered the pain, agony, and humiliation that each and every one of our sins cause. Jesus has experienced every pain that you feel. He has felt all the hurt and agony that you have experienced. He suffered through terrible shame, as many of us have. And He did it for you. He didn't take the easy way out, even when He was offered a drug to ease the pain.

Today, maybe a drug is the "easy way out" for you or someone you love. For those who are dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, or have sons or daughters, or close relatives or friends going through this, let me encourage you by simply saying this: Jesus Christ is the answer to your addiction problem. You can go through twelve steps or fifty steps, but without the One and Only Step -- Jesus Christ -- there is no freedom from any addiction. Sure, you need to recognize that you have a problem, but then go to Jesus and beg for His mercy and His help. He overcame the most traumatic suffering any one person could ever experience, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that He will help you overcome your addictions, if you just ask.

Check out Mike's Daily Devotions Here

What are you running from? -- Today's Devotion from Mike MacIntosh

Then they all forsook Him and fled. Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
Mark 14:50-52

Do you remember the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife? You can read all about it in Genesis 39:1-23. This woman was trying to seduce Joseph, but Joseph refused. In fact, she was so persistent that she grabbed his clothes and wouldn't let go. But Joseph, being a Godly man, kept on running -- right out of his garments! Joseph didn't want anything to do with her, or with the accompanying sin that she brought. Now that's a man with great faith.

And here in Mark,we see a bunch of people who were face to face with Jesus Christ -- but they were the ones who fled Him. And so persistent was one of these men, that when some of the guards caught hold of him, he kept on running -- you got it -- right out of his garments.

My question for you today is this: What are you running from? Are you ashamed of Jesus Christ to the point that you walk away from Him, or neglect the things He has called you to be and to do? Or, are you the kind of person who stands up for righteousness and flees temptation and evil? There are only two ways to run; you're either going to serve sin or serve Jesus. I urge you from the bottom of my heart to choose the Lord! Run away from evil, even if it means losing your shirt over it. Worldly possessions are temporary, but a relationship with the Lord is eternal.

Check out Mike's Daily Devotions Here

You can not Serve two masters

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
~ Jesus

(Matthew 6:24)