People who are trying to become free from an addiction to drugs or alcohol understand an important concept. They know they will always be "recovering."

The lure of those substances is so insidious that former abusers who are wise know how susceptible they are to being sucked in again. They must always be on guard. Time and again we've seen people in the public spotlight who seem to be cured, but who then have a relapse.

That principle is true not only of drug abusers but of all sinners. Those of us who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross are not recovered sinners, but recovering ones. We are just one sin away from falling back into a self-destructive pattern of behavior. That's why we must be so careful to avoid any activity or relationship that will reintroduce us to the sin we hate.

We are tempted when we are drawn toward a sin. It doesn't become a sin until "desire has conceived" (Jas. 1:15). And the more we deliberately expose ourselves to temptation, the less our resistance will be.

Because we are all recovering sinners, we need to leave plenty of room between us and sin. If we do, we will be less likely to stumble again.  — Dave Branon