While chatting reecently with Jasmin (one of my spiritual daughters) on an article I wrote, she was amazed at my perspective concerning personal responsibility regarding Christians drinking in particular, and willful sin in general. I said to her, "Abstaining from sin requires something greater than ourselves in order to master and overcome its influence." In a self-centered world, it is vital that we focus not on our fulfillment alone, but must understand our responsibility to others. No decision is made in a vacuum - everything we do affects otheres.

David said in Psalm 51:3, "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." The consequences of our past sinful decisions are "ever before us," running ahead of every questionable decision we contemplate, waving a red flag of warning to alert us not to make the same mistakes again.
My beloved brothers and sisters, each decision and action we consider is so much greater than us alone. The biggest deception of the enemy is this -  that our individual actions do not affect others. Everyone attached to us - past, present and future - can benefit or suffer from our choices. When I consider telling that little white lie, taking that sip, smoking that pipe, tappin' that boodie or cheatin' on them taxes, it is not enough to think of how I feel or what I want alone. I must realize that humanity (the lives of others) is assigned to the divinity (God's divine will and purpose) living inside.

All humanity hung in the balance as Jesus laid His flesh before the Father in Gethsemane's Garden, as recorded in Mark 14:36 "And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." His human nature cried out for deliverance, but His spirit man gave the "final answer" - the nevertheless.

Yes - I want it. I deserve it. I need it. It looks good, sounds right, smells great, feels soothing, and is hanging there from that tree for me to pluck and bite. But in spite of every want, need, pulse, passion, longing, craving, appetite and justification raging inside of me, my "yes" to those urges must be confronted by  the "nevertheless" standing at the crossroads of my will.  Nevertheless brings us back from the edge of unreasonable decision making - everyone needs a nevertheless in their tool kit.

There are those who are connected to you by the divine purpose and will of God, whose salvation and deliverance depends upon you, and your ability to overpower the yes of your flesh with the nevertheless of your spirit.