So here's the question, why do we develop and even cultivate sinful patterns?

Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall invites us to examine a comforting statement from the Apostle Paul.

In Romans 6, we're told that God's grace has set us free from the bondage of sin.

Jesus paid the ultimate price on our behalf, and because he did, we're no longer enslaved to our poor choices.

Instead, God's grace has granted us freedom and joy.

Chuck titled today's message with a pertinent question, whose slave are you?

If you look at your hand, you will have a wonderful illustration of how we are able to absorb, take in the Word of God.

A little finger we can hear His Word, which you are doing in a morning like this.

We can hear it, very simple, just sit and listen and take it in.

And the next finger illustrates, we can read. We can read His Word.

The next step beyond hearing is you take the time to read the scriptures on your own.

I hope you are making that a habit, regularly reading the scriptures.

When you get to the middle finger, it's study.

The difference between hearing and reading and studying is a pen and paper, or if you prefer, your computer.

You are writing down thoughts that have come to you as a result of hearing and reading when you begin to study.

You really are not a serious student of the scriptures until you begin to study the scriptures with thoughts in mind that you are putting down in your own words.

And then forth we can memorize the Word of God.

As we repeat it over and over in our minds, we can use it when we need it.

Having heard it and read it and studied it, we began to commit verses and even chapters and perhaps books of the Bible to memory.

I often challenge people with the thought that we may not always be free as a people.

And one thing that will be taken from us, if we are ever put under arrest and taken to a place where we are incarcerated, quite likely our Bibles will be taken from us.

Only what you have memorized will stay with you and will go with you, which you can repeat and use for personal strength and the strengthening of others.

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