Today’s Reading | Roman 13
The 13/14 Principle
What do you think about during the day? If we could play a video of your thoughts today, would you be comfortable if anyone saw it? In today’s reading, we have one of the most important principles in the Bible in our battle against sin. It is found in verse fourteen. In fact, you could call it the 13/14 principle. In this verse, Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and to not even think about how to gratify the desires of our sinful nature. It goes beyond the act of sin, to actually keeping us from thinking of ways to entertain or contemplate sin. The implication here is that while channel surfing by stations we know something sinful is about to appear, we do not “accidentally” pass that channel again, but skip it all together. When we could mistakenly see something in a store or hear something if we linger, we move quickly away so that we do not see or hear. It is making our priority the prevention of any impure sight or sound from entering our minds. We do not put ourselves in a position which makes it easy to sin. We guard our minds and allow no thought to enter which dishonors God. How are you doing in your life with the 13/14 principle?
Today’s Questions
Say What?
Observation: What do I see?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do?