I will do whatever it takes.

"You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;" -Hebrews 12:4

Hebrews 12 is an amazing chapter.  Verse 4 especially hits home when dealing with the struggle with sin.  Think of what Christ endured in His battle with sin!  We are to fix our eyes on Him and resist sin, even going to seemingly absurd lengths to do so. 

"I will do whatever it takes." 

Here is what this means: The Lord has shown us our sin and given us a mission to put to death the lust in our hearts.  I will do whatever it takes to obey and resist sin. 

What? We are to resist sin and kill the fleshly desires of our hearts.  We are to take every thought into captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5).  The goal is not to stop a behavior, but to bring our hearts into submission and obedience.  If we don't deal with our hearts then everything we attempt will ultimately fail.

Why? Because Jesus has died for us, His precious blood has freed us, He is our portion, our hope, our joy, and our salvation.

How? Through the guidance of His Word and through the power of His Spirit we can resist without losing heart.  Mortifying sin is not an quick and easy process, nor one that can be accomplished through our own willpower.

LINK: Whatever it takes - desiringgod.org