One thing that we can do to check our spiritual pulse is simply to check our branches. Look at your life and ask yourself, “Do I have any dead stuff on me?”
The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). That means that if there is any dead stuff in our life, then we must have let a little sin in there.
Jesus said, “…My Father…cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2).
The way a farmer gets rid of dead branches on his vines is to cut them off. That is exactly how we get rid of sin in our life. We must cut it off.
Sin kills you! It snuffs the vitality right out of your Christian life. We wonder why it is so hard to really hear from God. When we let sin in, we let death in.
We can go to church every week and read our Bible all the time, but if we let sin in, we let death in. That is why so many go to church but still do not feel alive on the inside. Once you cut the dead branches off, you will feel the freedom of real forgiveness and real life!
How do you cut them off? Repent and ask forgiveness. Do not ever do it again. Think of every dead branch in your life right now. Take some time to ask God to forgive you. Ask Him to pour the LIFE of His forgiveness into you now.
Let us “go and sin no more,” just like Jesus told the woman caught in her sin. Let us be the ones who show this world what real life is all about. You should be the most ALIVE person that anyone has ever met; begin TODAY!
Excerpt permission granted by Teen Mania Ministries
Ron Luce was the co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries from 1986-2015. Ron and his wife Katie dreamed to raise young people who would change the world.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theology from Oral Roberts University and his master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tulsa, along with an honorary doctorate from Jerry Falwell of Liberty University. He is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 60 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast, CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC Nightline, The 700 Club, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Sean Hannity Show. Ron has also written 35 books for teens, youth pastors, and parents and continues to speak at leaders' conferences helping parents and pastors understand the plight of today's youth and showing them how all of us can be part of the solution.
Ron and Katie currently live in Garden Valley, Texas, with their son Cameron. They have two daughters, Hannah and Charity.