There is no such thing as a "Casual" addict.
In the world of addiction, it is all or nothing.
You could take the saying from the Big Book of A.A. and apply it to addiction..."Half measures avail us nothing."
No one in addiction lived by the half-measure standard.
It was all or nothing.
So because of the cravings that screamed to use....
Because of the pounding in the brain and the pain of withdrawal....
we became a people of "ALL".
We took "All" as far as we could.
We gave our "ALL" to our addiction.
And it, in turn, took "ALL" we had.
All our finances.
All our family.
All our friends.
All our health.
You see, addiction knows no half measures.
It is an equal opportunity destroyer.
In John 6:66, we read where Jesus had been talking to those who were following him. This group actually consisted of more than just the original twelve disciples. Any way, Jesus was laying out some ground work on what it would cost to be his disciple. it involved trading one way of living for the one He was offering. In Verse 66, we read: From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. The ones who left were not willing to go "ALL" the way.
Jesus demands the same thing from those who are calling on Him to be their Higher Power in this recovery. He is not willing to share time or life with those who are half-hearted. Those who simply want the pain and destruction to go away, but also to continue to use. It doesn't work that way.
He is an "ALL OR NOTHING" kind of Jesus. The problem comes when you first come to recovery. All you can focus on is what you have to give up. Basically you are giving up everything you love and have fallen in love with.
Never mind that these things are killing you. You love them
People, places and things.....
All the while you are grieving this "giving up", you never once consider what it is you are going to get in return.
It isn't just about what you get this side of heaven, but also the life that comes afterward.
Jesus said, in John 10:10, "The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly."
The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. Hmmmm, let's see.
Addiction steals from me....
Addiction destroys me and everything around me....
Addiction, left unchecked, will kill me....physically and spiritually.
Therefore, addiction must be one of the weapons that is used by the devil.
Addiction is a "WORK" or by product of the influence I have allowed in my life.
Oh, it begins simple enough....
That is deception part.
"Hey man.....here try this."
To the one who is offered the drug or drink, the lure is the idea of fitting into a group. Being accepted. Becoming one of the gang. So simple, yet it opens the door to a life of pain and misery.
You become an "ALL OR NOTHING" addict.
But Jesus has come to you as the ultimate HIGHER POWER, to break the cycle of destruction and offer you a new way to live.
His demand is also "ALL OR NOTHING".
Unlike addiction though, He offers the Power and ability to live, to walk it out daily.
Good news for this day....
Jesus is who He claimed to be....
Jesus can do what He promised to do....
Think on these things....
God on you....
mb
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