To Read, To Think

Out with Old

Sometimes we can get stuck in our ways. We feel comfortable performing the same tasks in the same way at the same time. It makes us feel in charge like we know what we are doing. Yet, sometimes the old ways are what keep us stuck in our ruts and problems. In order to get sober and live a good life, I had a few key things I had to do.

1: I had to understand that I could not stop drinking by myself.

2: I had to actually ask for help.

3: I had to take that help.

In other words, I had to trust God and others to help me learn new ways. My ways did not work.

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“You are to give a young bull as a sin offering to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who come near to minister before me, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

Ezekiel 43:19 NIV

In the Old Testament, the people would sacrifice animals in order to wipe away their guilt and their sins. Moses had to do so every day and on behalf of all the people. The animals were usually young as they were still pure. In the verse above, the Lord asks for a young bull, a big, strong animal as a sin offering. The priests themselves were required to make the sacrifice instead of the way Moses was required to do.

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“But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

1 Samuel 15:22 NIV

The problem with the sacrifices is that the blood of the animals only covered the people’s sins and did nothing to forgive them. It soon became a traditional thing, and instead of changing the sins, the people continued on their destructive paths knowing that the sacrifice would cover the guilt of their sins. The old ways were not working.

“Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

Hebrews 10:18 NIV
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God sent Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice. Knowing that the blood of sheep and bulls only covered sin, the Lord knew we needed a new way. Jesus was to be “the Lamb of God. His sacrifice would not only remove our sins, but it would also forgive our sins and remain forgiven forever. The only sacrifice we must make is our own will. As I said, I need to admit that my way did not work, that I needed God’s help to change and I needed to listen to others who had walked the path before. I need a new way.

“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”

Step 10 BB

I am still human and as a human, I still commit sins sometimes unknowingly, and sad to say, sometimes knowingly. It is then I need to pray for forgiveness knowing that I will be forgiven by the Lord. It is a new way of living for me. By promptly admitting my wrongdoing whether to the Lord or to others, I get to stay sober and happy.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV
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