The Bible addresses the use of intoxicating substances with profound wisdom, offering both warnings about their dangers and demonstrations of God's redemptive grace for those who struggle with addiction. Through the experiences of Noah, Lot, and other biblical figures, Scripture reveals timeless truths about the consequences of impaired judgment and the divine path to freedom.

Understanding what the Bible teaches about drugs and alcohol requires examining not just isolated verses but the broader narrative of human weakness, divine compassion, and the transformation available through Jesus Christ. This comprehensive exploration will illuminate God's heart on substance use and provide hope for those seeking liberation from addiction.

Noah's Drunkenness and Its Lasting Consequences

The story of Noah's drunkenness stands as one of the Bible's earliest warnings about alcohol's dangers. After surviving the flood and receiving God's covenant promise, this righteous man who walked with God fell into sin through intoxication.

This passage reveals several critical truths about intoxication. Noah, described earlier as "a just man and perfect in his generations" (Genesis 6:9), demonstrates that even the righteous are vulnerable to substance abuse. His drunkenness led to shameful exposure and created family discord that would echo through generations.

Ham's inappropriate response to his father's nakedness resulted in a curse upon Canaan: "And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren" (Genesis 9:25). This curse affected entire nations descended from Canaan, showing how one moment of intoxication can have consequences far beyond the immediate situation.

The Scriptures provide additional warnings about alcohol's deceptive nature: "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine" (Proverbs 23:29-30).

Noah's experience teaches us that alcohol impairs judgment, strips away dignity, and creates vulnerability to sin and shame. Even a man who found grace in God's eyes and was chosen to preserve humanity fell prey to wine's deceptive power.

Lot's Intoxication and the Sin of Incest

Another sobering biblical account involves Lot, Abraham's nephew, whose drunkenness resulted in grievous sin with lasting consequences for nations.

After escaping Sodom's destruction, Lot's daughters deliberately intoxicated him to commit incest, resulting in the births of Moab and Ammon, ancestors of nations that would become persistent enemies of Israel. This account demonstrates alcohol's capacity to completely obliterate moral discernment and open doors to sins that would otherwise be unthinkable.

The Bible emphasizes the importance of clear thinking: "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Lot's story illustrates what happens when sobriety is abandoned—catastrophic moral failure becomes possible.

Consider also this warning: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Satan exploits impaired judgment to lead people into sins they would otherwise resist. Lot's drunkenness created an opportunity for wickedness that affected generations.

Old Testament Warnings About Strong Drink

Throughout the Old Testament, God provided repeated warnings about intoxicating beverages and their effects on His people.

The book of Proverbs contains numerous admonitions: "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" (Proverbs 23:31-32). This vivid imagery compares alcohol's ultimate effects to a venomous snake bite—what appears appealing initially brings pain and destruction.

God specifically warned leaders against alcohol because impaired judgment in positions of authority causes widespread harm. When those responsible for justice and governance drink, they "pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted," creating systemic injustice.

The prophet Isaiah pronounced woe upon those who prioritize drinking: "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!" (Isaiah 5:11). This describes addiction—the compulsive pursuit of intoxication from morning to night.

He continued: "Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink" (Isaiah 5:22). Those who pride themselves on their drinking capacity face God's judgment rather than admiration.

The prophet Hosea revealed how intoxication impacts spiritual understanding: "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart" (Hosea 4:11). Substance abuse dulls spiritual sensitivity and distances people from God's presence.

The Nazarite Vow and Complete Abstinence

God established the Nazarite vow as a special consecration requiring complete abstinence from alcohol and grape products, demonstrating that total sobriety honors Him.

Samson was consecrated as a Nazarite from birth: "For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb" (Judges 13:5). Though Scripture doesn't explicitly mention Samson breaking the drinking prohibition, his violations of other Nazarite requirements (touching dead bodies, allowing his hair to be cut) illustrate how compromising God's standards leads to spiritual weakness and defeat.

John the Baptist also lived under a similar calling: "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15). His abstinence was directly connected to being filled with the Holy Spirit, suggesting that avoiding intoxicants creates space for God's presence and power.

The Rechabites provided another example of blessed abstinence. God commended them for their obedience to their ancestor's command not to drink wine: "Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever" (Jeremiah 35:18-19).

Priests Forbidden from Drinking While Serving

God specifically commanded priests to abstain from alcohol when performing their duties, emphasizing that ministry requires clarity of mind and spiritual sensitivity.

This command came immediately after Nadab and Abihu died for offering strange fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). Some Jewish commentators suggest these priests may have been intoxicated when they committed this fatal error, making God's prohibition against priestly drinking an even more sobering warning.

The reasoning God provides is illuminating: priests must "put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean." Intoxication blurs these crucial distinctions, making spiritual discernment impossible.

As believers in Christ, we are now "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), suggesting that the priestly standard of sobriety has application for all Christians serving God. Paul wrote: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).

New Testament Warnings About Drunkenness

Jesus and the apostles continued the Old Testament's warnings about intoxication, making clear that drunkenness has no place in the life of a believer.

Paul explicitly listed drunkenness among sins that exclude people from God's kingdom: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness... Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

This verse presents a stark contrast: drunkenness versus Spirit-filling. The grammatical construction suggests these are mutually exclusive states—one cannot be both intoxicated and Spirit-filled. Paul calls believers to pursue the latter rather than the former.

He reinforced this message: "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying" (Romans 13:13). Drunkenness is grouped with sexual immorality and conflict as behavior incompatible with walking in the light.

Peter echoed this teaching: "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries" (1 Peter 4:3). He characterized drunkenness as part of the old life before Christ, something believers should leave behind.

Jesus Himself warned: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34). He placed drunkenness alongside worldly anxiety as something that makes believers unprepared for His return.

The Body as God's Temple

The New Testament revelation that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit provides powerful motivation for sobriety and careful stewardship of our physical faculties.

This profound truth changes everything about how we view substance use. Our bodies don't belong to us—they were purchased by Christ's blood and now house the Holy Spirit. Deliberately damaging this temple through drugs or alcohol dishonors God and grieves the Spirit.

Paul wrote earlier in the same passage: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Defiling our bodies carries serious consequences because God holds us accountable for stewarding what belongs to Him.

This principle extends beyond just avoiding drunkenness to encompass all substance abuse. Modern drugs—whether illegal narcotics, prescription medications used inappropriately, or other mind-altering chemicals—damage the body-temple and impair the mind God calls us to keep clear.

Paul's teaching on food applies even more strongly to intoxicants: "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Addiction brings us under the power of a substance, which contradicts the freedom Christ purchased for us.

The Example of Daniel and His Companions

Daniel and his three friends provide an inspiring example of young men who refused to defile themselves with the king's wine, demonstrating that abstinence brings divine blessing.

Daniel recognized that consuming the king's wine would defile him. Though the text doesn't specify exactly why (perhaps because it was offered to idols or because abstinence was part of his personal consecration), his conviction and refusal brought remarkable results.

After ten days on their chosen diet of vegetables and water, Daniel and his friends appeared healthier than those who ate the king's food: "And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat" (Daniel 1:15).

More importantly, God blessed their commitment with wisdom and understanding: "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (Daniel 1:17). Their abstinence was connected to their spiritual insight and divine favor.

When they stood before the king, they far exceeded others: "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm" (Daniel 1:20). Their sobriety and purity contributed to their extraordinary effectiveness in serving both God and the king.

Jesus, Wine, and the Wedding at Cana

Some point to Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) as biblical approval for drinking alcohol. However, careful examination reveals important nuances.

First, the Greek word translated "wine" (oinos) could refer to either fermented or unfermented grape juice. In ancient times, grape juice was often preserved through various methods without fermentation, and the term encompassed both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Second, even if the wine was fermented, ancient wine was typically diluted with water (often at ratios of 3:1 or higher), making it far less potent than modern alcoholic beverages. The wine was primarily consumed for hydration and nutrition, not intoxication.

Third, and most significantly, Jesus' miracle at Cana doesn't negate the Bible's consistent warnings against drunkenness. Even if Jesus provided alcoholic wine, He never endorsed getting drunk. The master of ceremonies praised the wine's quality, not its intoxicating power.

The purpose of the miracle was to manifest Jesus' glory and strengthen His disciples' faith, not to promote drinking. Any interpretation that uses this event to justify drunkenness or substance abuse contradicts the Bible's overwhelming testimony against intoxication.

Additionally, Jesus modeled perfect obedience to the Father. When offered wine mixed with myrrh on the cross (a mild painkiller), "he received it not" (Mark 15:23), demonstrating His commitment to maintaining full awareness even during crucifixion.

Paul's Counsel to Timothy About Wine

Paul's advice to Timothy about drinking a little wine for his stomach (1 Timothy 5:23) requires contextual understanding to avoid misapplication.

This verse reveals several important points. First, Timothy apparently abstained from wine entirely ("drink no longer water"), suggesting that total abstinence was his practice and perhaps Paul's general recommendation. Second, Paul prescribed wine medicinally for specific physical ailments—"thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."

In ancient times, wine had legitimate medicinal uses. Without modern pharmaceuticals, fermented wine could aid digestion, kill harmful bacteria in water, and provide other therapeutic benefits. Paul's instruction was specifically medical, not a general endorsement of drinking.

Note Paul said "a little wine"—a small, controlled amount for medicinal purposes, not drinking for pleasure or to the point of intoxication. This prescription in no way contradicts warnings against drunkenness or supports recreational substance use.

Furthermore, modern believers have access to medical treatments unknown in Paul's time. Using 1 Timothy 5:23 to justify drinking for pleasure rather than medical necessity misapplies Paul's counsel entirely.

Church Leaders Called to Sobriety

The New Testament establishes clear standards of sobriety for church leaders, emphasizing that those who shepherd God's people must model self-control regarding substances.

Paul required that bishops (overseers/elders) be "not given to wine." The Greek phrase (mē paroinon) means not lingering near wine, not addicted to wine, not controlled by wine. Leaders must demonstrate mastery over substances rather than being mastered by them.

He continued with requirements for deacons: "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre" (1 Timothy 3:8). Even church servants in supporting roles must not be characterized by excessive drinking.

Titus received similar instructions: "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre" (Titus 1:7). Leadership in God's house requires self-control, including regarding substances that impair judgment.

These standards apply most strictly to leaders, but they reveal God's heart for all believers. If those who lead must exercise such restraint, how much more should all Christians avoid anything that diminishes their spiritual effectiveness or damages their testimony?

The Principle of Not Causing Others to Stumble

Even if a believer feels freedom to drink in moderation, the Bible teaches we must consider our influence on others who may struggle with addiction or whose conscience is weak.

Paul established the principle that love for others should limit our exercise of personal freedom. If my drinking causes someone else to stumble into sin or addiction, I must willingly abstain for their sake.

He explained this more fully: "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak... But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ" (1 Corinthians 8:9, 12).

This principle has special relevance regarding substances. Many people struggle with addiction, and seeing Christians drink may trigger their temptation or cause them to rationalize returning to destructive habits. Love demands we prioritize their spiritual safety over our personal preferences.

Paul lived by this standard himself: "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend" (1 Corinthians 8:13). If the great apostle would permanently abstain from something lawful to avoid causing offense, how much more should we abstain from substances that carry such high potential for harm?

Modern Substance Abuse Beyond Alcohol

While the Bible specifically addresses wine and strong drink, its principles clearly apply to modern drugs that didn't exist in biblical times.

The Greek word often translated "sorcery" in the New Testament is pharmakeia, from which we get "pharmacy." In ancient times, this referred to the use of drugs in connection with occult practices, but the term's root meaning relates to mind-altering substances.

Paul listed "witchcraft" (pharmakeia) among works of the flesh: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies" (Galatians 5:19-20).

Revelation also warns against it: "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts" (Revelation 9:21). And again: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, prescription drug abuse, and other modern substance addictions all fall under biblical principles against intoxication. These drugs impair judgment, damage the body-temple, create chemical bondage, and open doors to spiritual darkness.

The Bible's command to "be sober" (nēphō in Greek) means to be free from intoxicants, to be clear-headed, to exercise self-control. This applies regardless of whether the intoxicant is alcohol, illegal drugs, or misused prescription medications.

Addiction as Spiritual Bondage

The Bible reveals that addiction is not merely a physical or psychological problem but a form of spiritual bondage from which only Christ can bring complete freedom.

Addiction is slavery. Those trapped in substance abuse serve their addiction—it dictates their choices, controls their behavior, and dominates their thoughts. Jesus offers genuine freedom from this bondage through His redemptive power.

Paul wrote: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16). When we yield to substances, we become their servants. But through Christ, we can yield instead to righteousness and experience liberation.

The good news is that God's grace is sufficient to break every chain: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

No addiction is too powerful for God to break. He provides both the desire and the ability to overcome: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Overcoming Addiction

Victory over substance abuse comes not through human willpower alone but through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit working in believers' lives.

The key to overcoming addiction is not trying harder but yielding more fully to the Holy Spirit's control. As we walk in the Spirit, He empowers us to say no to fleshly desires, including substance cravings.

Paul contrasted being drunk with wine to being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The Spirit provides what people mistakenly seek through substances—comfort, peace, joy, and escape from pain. But unlike drugs or alcohol, the Spirit transforms us without damaging us.

The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). As the Spirit produces His fruit in our lives, we develop the self-control necessary to resist addictive substances.

Jesus promised: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). This power enables us to live victoriously over sin, including substance addiction.

Repentance and Forgiveness for Substance Abuse

For those who have fallen into substance abuse, God offers complete forgiveness and restoration through genuine repentance and faith in Christ.

No matter how deep the addiction or how long it has persisted, God's grace is greater. He promises to forgive and cleanse when we come to Him in honest confession.

The Corinthian church included former addicts: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

"And such were some of you"—past tense. Former drunkards and substance abusers had been completely transformed by Christ's power. They were washed, sanctified, and justified. This same transformation is available today.

God doesn't merely forgive—He removes the guilt and shame: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). Those who repent can walk in freedom, no longer defined by past failures.

Practical Steps Toward Freedom from Addiction

While ultimate deliverance comes from God, Scripture provides practical wisdom for those seeking freedom from substance bondage.

1. Acknowledge the Problem: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Denial perpetuates addiction; honest acknowledgment begins the path to freedom.

2. Separate from Temptation: "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22). This means removing substances from your environment, avoiding places associated with your addiction, and distancing yourself from relationships that enable substance use.

3. Renew Your Mind: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). Fill your mind with Scripture, replacing addictive thought patterns with God's truth.

4. Find Christian Community: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). Don't fight addiction alone—seek support from mature believers who will pray for you and hold you accountable.

5. Replace Bad Habits with Good: "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28). Paul's principle of replacement applies to addiction—don't just stop using substances; fill that space with positive, God-honoring activities.

6. Pray Without Ceasing: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18). Maintain constant communication with God, crying out for His strength moment by moment.

7. Don't Give Up After Setbacks: "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:16). If you relapse, immediately return to God. His mercies are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23), and He will restore you as you continue pursuing Him.

The Church's Role in Supporting Recovery

The body of Christ has a crucial responsibility to help those struggling with addiction find freedom and maintain sobriety.

Churches should provide grace-filled environments where addicts can seek help without fear of judgment. Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors, demonstrating that God's people should welcome those struggling with sin while helping them find transformation.

Accountability relationships are essential: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17). Mature believers should walk alongside those in recovery, providing encouragement, accountability, and prayer support.

James instructed: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up" (James 5:14-15). Addiction is a sickness requiring spiritual intervention through prayer and ministry.

The church should also address the root issues underlying addiction—trauma, pain, emptiness, broken relationships—by pointing people to the healing found in Christ and providing biblical counseling and discipleship.

God's Vision for Our Bodies and Minds

Understanding God's intention for human faculties helps us grasp why substance abuse is so destructive and why sobriety honors Him.

God designed our bodies and brains with incredible complexity and purpose. Every neuron, every chemical process, every physical system reflects His wisdom and serves His purposes. Substances that corrupt these God-designed functions dishonor our Creator.

Our minds are meant to commune with God: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3). Mind-altering substances interrupt this communion, making spiritual perception difficult or impossible.

Jesus commanded: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" (Mark 12:30). Total devotion includes mental clarity and physical vigor—both undermined by substance abuse.

Paul wrote: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Substance abuse cannot glorify God because it damages what He created and diminishes our ability to serve Him effectively.

Hope for Complete Transformation

The ultimate message regarding drugs and alcohol in the Bible is not condemnation but hope—God can completely transform anyone, no matter how deep their addiction.

In Christ, you become a new creation. The old identity as an addict passes away; you become a child of God with a new nature. This transformation happens at salvation and continues as you walk with Christ.

God's power far exceeds addiction's power: "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20). He can do more than you can imagine—completely delivering you from substance bondage and using your testimony to help others.

The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, described himself as "the chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15), yet God radically transformed him into the greatest missionary of the early church. If God could transform Paul, He can transform anyone.

Consider also the Gadarene demoniac, who lived among tombs, cutting himself and completely out of control (Mark 5:1-20). After Jesus delivered him, people found him "sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind." This man who had been utterly enslaved became a powerful witness for Christ throughout his region.

Your past doesn't determine your future. God specializes in redemption stories, taking broken lives and making them beautiful testimonies of His grace and power.

Living as a Sober-Minded Witness

For believers who have never struggled with addiction, maintaining sobriety serves as a powerful witness in a substance-abusing culture.

Christians are called to be distinct from the world around them. In a culture where intoxication is normalized and even celebrated, choosing sobriety demonstrates that joy, peace, and fulfillment come from Christ, not chemicals.

Peter wrote: "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead" (1 Peter 4:4-5). Don't be discouraged when others mock your sobriety—your different lifestyle is a witness that will judge them unless they repent.

Jesus said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Sobriety is one way your light shines, showing others that life in Christ offers something far superior to temporary chemical escape.

Your clear-minded devotion to Christ may be exactly what someone trapped in addiction needs to see to believe that freedom is possible. Your example matters more than you know.

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