Follow Christ, Not Our Base Instincts

Jude 10 "Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals--these are the very things that destroy them."

      O Lord, the fall and sin of man have given us a heart of wickedness and has made us totally depraved.  I see it in myself in unguarded moments, and see it in others as well.  It is no secret that man, left to his own devices, will be like an animal following his base instincts.
      Last night as Dick and I were reading Gracia Burnham's book about their year of captivity held by Muslim terrorists in the Philippines "In the Presence of My Enemies", she tells of a conversation her husband Martin had with the terrorist leader.
      He was telling the leader how he longed to be home to be teaching his teenage son about moral purity.  He said, "In Christianity we try to teach our sons the biblical standard of staying pure until marriage."  His Muslim captor countered, "Men think about women all the time and it is ridiculous to think that a man would restrain himself.  But if a girl sleeps with someone before marriage, she is put to death. Or at best, she is only good enough to be a slave the rest of her life.  That's just the rules."
      Lord, I am SO glad that those are not Your rules!  You and You alone give worth to human lives, and especially women.  I humbly thank You that I was born in America, founded on Christian principles.  I know that, as a country, we have not always followed those principles and for that I ask Your forgiveness to us as a nation.  In our day, there is still human degradation that takes place against men and women, as well as our children.  We have freedom, but are still held captive by our sin natures. 
      You give total freedom from sin to the Christian, as we are crucified with You and it is no longer I who live, but You live in me!  Lord, purge Your church of the smooth talking charlatan plants of the enemy who lure Your children to follow their base instincts, so that we will indeed be a bride without spot or blemish ready and able to build Your Kingdom for Your glory!  Convict us when we start to slide back into the world because of lack of spiritual discipline so that we might confess and repent.