Identity and Purpose · God's Promises · Jesus' Promises · Restoration and Comfort · Emotional Healing · Inner Healing

Caught in a vicious circle? Jesus is here!

9 min read, approximately

“There was a man there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been that way a long time, he said to him: Do you want to be healed? Sir, the sick man answered, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred; while I am on my way, someone else goes down before me. Jesus said to him: Get up, take your bed, and walk. Immediately the man was healed, took his bed, and walked. That day was the Sabbath.

Then the Jews said to the man who had been healed: It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed. He answered: The one who healed me told me: Take your bed and walk. They asked him: Who is the one who told you: Take your bed and walk? The man who had been healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had withdrawn from the crowd there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said: Look, you have been healed; sin no more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” (John 5:5-14)

Vice

A vice is an action or behavior that gradually leads to deterioration and physical, moral, mental, and spiritual harm through a lack of sound judgment and determination. A vicious circle means practicing a vice again and again without being able to discern how it affects me, or without the strength to stop doing what harms me.
The Bible says:

“My people were destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6)

“For if, after escaping the world’s defilements through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they become entangled in them again and are overcome, their final condition becomes worse than their first.” (2 Peter 2:20)

In what way?

Alcoholism? Smoking? A disordered sex life? Cowardice? Laziness? Unfaithfulness? Lying? Speaking ill of others? Impatience? Theft? Lewdness? Masturbation? Drug addiction? Harmful relationships?…
This world offers us gloom and darkness, constantly inviting us to keep practicing the above and much more; however…

Do we want to leave that vicious circle? What does the Bible teach us?

We must know the truth

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him: If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

What is the Truth, and who is the Truth?

“Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Why must we know the Truth?

“And this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

And where do we find more about Jesus?

“But continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you learned it, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

In the Bible? Why?

“For the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword; it penetrates to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No created thing is hidden from his presence; rather, all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Why must we also know the Bible?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105)

What should we do with the Bible?

“I will meditate on your commandments and consider your ways. I will rejoice in your statutes; I will not forget your words.” (Psalms 119:15-16)

The Bible is God’s Word… Why should we meditate on God’s Word?

“This book of the law shall never depart from your mouth; instead, you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you keep and do everything written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and everything will go well for you.” (Joshua 1:8)

And how will this help us leave vicious circles?

“All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that the person of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

“Everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, because they are a child; but solid food is for the mature, whose senses have been trained through practice to discern good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14)

So we will gain understanding to know what is good and what is evil… For what purpose?

“Therefore, gird up the loins of your understanding, be sober, and place your hope fully in the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the desires you formerly had in your ignorance; instead, as the one who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Why does God want us to be holy?

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

But how can we reach that Truth, who is Jesus Christ, so that we can leave vicious circles?

“But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak everything he hears and make known to you the things to come.” (John 16:13)

And where is the Holy Spirit?

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

All this is so beautiful, but we have done so much evil…

“And this is the condemnation: the light came into the world, but people loved darkness more than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest their deeds be exposed. But whoever practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be evident that their deeds are done in God.” (John 3:16-17)

Yes, of course, this makes us ashamed of what we have done. But what can we do?

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and there is no truth in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all evil.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Confess our sins?

“But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the word of faith that we preach: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. For Scripture says: Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:8-11)

Yes, but these vicious circles have been destroying our hearts, and our lives are so unclean…

“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you will be cleansed of all your impurities; I will cleanse you of all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, keep my precepts, and put them into practice.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

Lord, do you want to do that for us?

“…I am willing; be clean.” (Mark 1:41b)

Why would you do that?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

also

“The Lord appeared to me long ago, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my mercy toward you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

On one occasion

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every ailment among the people. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were helpless and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36)

but

“I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10b-11)

“So do not fear; you are worth more than many little birds. Therefore, whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:31-32)

Are you tired?

“Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Now that we know this, do we want to remain in our vicious circles or leave them?
Take heart!

“For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love, and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook