1. It's time to stop sinning (1-3)

Jesus suffered and died for us. So when we suffer physically or emotionally, we can endure and grow if we think of him and come to him. We are called to have the same attitude that Christ had toward suffering. He did not live to satisfy his physical desires; he lived to do the will of God. Before we knew Jesus' grace, we spent time doing what people without God choose to do. We have sinned enough in the past to last us for the rest of our lives.

2. Overcome family and peer pressure

Those closest to us often can't understand our changed lives. They feel threatened. So they try to get us to do the same kinds of things as we did before. They try to draw us away from Jesus--back into the pattern of our old lives. Those who criticize us must themselves stand before Christ the Judge someday.

Application: Lord, help me not to be afraid of suffering, but rather, to seek to do your will.
One Word: Live for God