Red Bird Devotions #11

We Like What We're Used To

(Repost from 3/18/11)

One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin.

Oswald Chambers -- My Utmost for His Highest

We like what we’re used to.

This week, because Luke and friends took my Suburban to Florida, I have been driving Brent’s car.  And I have a bad attitude about it; it doesn’t have an arm rest, there’s no alert chime when gas is low, the seat feels wrong.  I’m just generally unhappy operating it.  You know why?  Because I like what I’m used to, and I’m used to my Suburban.

The other day, I had Shay drive Brent’s car as we came home from a track meet together.  And she complained; the brakes were touchy, the gear shift was on the console—not the steering wheel, the seat was too far back.  She didn’t like it either.  Is it because Shay’s normal wheels are so fantastic?  No, she drives Luke’s old green Buick Century in which the windows don’t roll down, the shifting symbols (P,R,N,D) are missing (you just have to kind guess where you are by feel and hope you don’t drive off the retaining wall) and only one wiper blade works. Brent’s car is actually fairly new and smooth and (though I hate to admit it) kind of cool.  So why didn’t she like it either?  Because she likes what she’s used to, and she’s used to the Buick.

As Christians, this concept should motivate us towards righteousness and away from sin.  If we like what we’re used to, shouldn’t we make sure that we are “used to” righteousness? If pursuing righteousness is our daily routine, we will become accustomed to the thought patterns and activities that accompany it. And we will like it.  But…if our daily choices are not reflecting the renewed mind that God promises us, and if sinful tendencies have become the norm, then we become “used to” sin and it fails to shock us anymore.  In fact, it feels downright comfortable. 

We like what we’re used to. What are you used to?

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2