Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows."¹

It is a fact of life that our lifestyle affects our life and that of our families.

Alcoholism, for example, affects millions of families and individuals. It tears families apart and is terribly damaging to children in their developmental years when they have a parent or parents who are alcoholics. It causes innumerable crimes including rape, physical and sexual abuse, murder, robbery and maimed lives and slaughter on our highways.

According to an article in Moody Monthly, homosexuals account for half the nation's cases of syphilis, even though they represent only a small percent of the population. The reason? Promiscuity. Homosexuals are also the principal victims of AIDS and other infectious diseases, and are fifteen times more likely to commit a murder. And according to the EP News Service, the U.S. government spends more on AIDS research than it does on heart diseases. This is in spite of the fact that cardiac disorders claim forty times more deaths than AIDS.

And Pulpit Helps reports that 30 percent of all cancer deaths are related to smoking. There is also a 70 percent greater risk of heart disease among smokers than among nonsmokers.

God has a sound reason for all of His lawsâ€"including the ones that apply to the sins of the spirit such as emotional dishonesty, jealousy, envy, malice, hatred, resentment, greed, lust, an unforgiving spirit, and so on. All of these are damaging to the body as well as to the spirit just as much as cigarette smoking, and perhaps even more damaging. It's good to keep this in mind when we judge other sinners. Whatever it is that we sow, that's what we reap. That's the law of the harvest. And God never goes against His own laws.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to realize that all Your laws are for my protection and that of my loved ones. And please help me to abide by them so that I can lead a healthier, happier life and be a good example for my children and my children's children. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Galatians 6:7 (NIV).

<:))))><

2. To Know God and be sure you're a real
    Christian click on:

3. Donate: To help send Daily Encounter
    without charge to people around the world
    click on:

4. To send today's Daily Encounter to a friend
    click on:

5. To share your faith in a simple, attractive
    way with a friend click on:

6. For today's featured article click on:

7. This week's chuckle as seen "On the Lighter
    Side"  on Weekend Encounter click on:

8. Change Address of your subscription to
    Daily Encounter click on: