All tagged sin
Do we think that by withdrawing from the world, by separating ourselves, that we will become more pious and that this will help us to consecrate ourselves by removing all temptation? Well, this is a false hope, and if we look at the gospel of Jesus we understand that He inserted Himself fully into the world and wants us to remain in the world also. He didn’t run from it but overcame it.
Do we let the happenings of the world trouble us and destroy the faith, peace, and tranquility we have in Jesus Christ? Are we so worried about what is occurring in our day to day lives that we can no longer see or feel the eternal truth, which is that Jesus suffered so we should be redeemed; that we should have peace and rest? If so it is time we started stripping the meaningless outer layers away from our life in the world and get down to the one thing that truly matters... our faith in the Cross.
Do you see God the Father as a gentle old grey-haired man who forgives you regardless of what you do and without regard to, or memory of, who and what you are? Well, that isn’t so. Without the horrific and yet wonderful sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ we would be lost, because God’s very nature would prohibit Him from overlooking our sins. Our forgiveness is a supernatural spiritual event that is without precedent, and which cleanses the once permanent stain of sin.
What sins do we have in our lives that have enslaved us? Do we have an overriding desire for something that drives us to commit sin, or a need in our life that makes us complicit or vulnerable to sinful things? Either way, we have been enslaved, and our sin will rule us until we can find emancipation from it. Sexual predators are in the news again right now... let’s take a look.
How often do we commit a sin, confess it, and ask for forgiveness only to find purification before retreating once again into that selfsame sin? How many battles must we fight with an adversary before they are at last declared defeated? Do we ask God to heal the wounds of our sin, but neglect to ask that He fight and claim victory for us?
How big is the passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ? How complete the grace of God that this represents? Do we find ourselves praying for the individual sins we have committed but neglecting God’s amazing forgiveness of the overarching concept of sin? So, how great is the passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Have we ever stopped to consider the unfathomable depth of what was accomplished for us? Maybe we can get a glimpse of it in a mother’s loving eyes.
Do you feel like a victim of Adam and Eve? Do you view yourself as having been strapped with the responsibility for a sin they committed? Nothing could be further from the truth... in fact, the realization of our own sins is more than enough to deal with. So, what did we receive from Adam that brings us death?
Do you have hidden sins that are undoing you? They don't have to be huge or incredibly sleazy, just dishonest to God's commands, law, will, and the commandments of Jesus Christ. Tolerating such behavior in ourselves will surely undo the good work that has been done in us. We will certainly become blinded by our unrighteousness.
Are you a slave to instinctive reflexes... this is a recipe for instant sin, and an avenue for our inner person, the old fallen man, to bypass a carefully thought-out reaction, driven by our faith and intellect, as it erupts from our mouths. Conquering this ancient fallen creature within each of us requires chains that only God’s Word, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, can bind him with.
I am thinking about what it means to turn the other cheek this morning. Is it a sign of cowardice, bravery, or something else entirely? I think it might be the latter. Although it could be construed as a sign of weakness, or that it takes courage to stand and not retreat, it also demonstrates great faith to resist being provoked or enticed to sin.
I am more than just a sinner in the general sense; I am a person who commits very specific sins. It is easy to make the open-ended statement "I am a sinner", but God wants to deal with each of us regarding our specific sins. We are led to understand what our sins are when we stand in the presence of God.
Am I a sinner? Can I lead a life of innocence? Am I seeking to be pure? Will God forgive me when I sin against Him? These are the questions man has always asked himself and which we are asking ourselves today as we contemplate sin in our lives, and the world around us. Let’s join together as one today as we listen to the words of the Apostle Paul and seek out our own salvation which God has planned and now works in us.
Are there situations and places where we don't feel at home with God? This is my morning thought. Our goal in faith should be to remain comfortably in the presence of God wherever we are and in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in... So how do we get there? It is easy to walk with Him when all is going well in our lives of faith and we are not experiencing spiritual challenges, but what about those times when we are facing storms and temptations?
We are another day closer to Holy Week and Easter Sunday, so my mind continues to dwell on, and further recall, the activities that were about to transpire in the life of Jesus at that time. This morning, I am concentrating specifically on the Garden of Gethsemane and the sorrow and agony that Jesus faced there. I pray that you will join me in reliving what occurred there and pray with me as we do this together. Let’s jointly recall the prayers and obedience to God’s will of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Is Jesus pleased with us as intercessors? Do we find it within ourselves to pray for sinners, or do we judge when we should actually be praying for them? Do we only want to intercede for the righteous and find that we are doing so at the expense of the sinner?