by Charity Pence
Sin has been a part of our world from the beginning. Satan enticed Eve to eat forbidden fruit, and she in turn enticed Adam to eat. Genesis 3:6 says, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." By reading the entire passage we see what really happened there. Satan fooled Eve. He knew what would happen once she ate of the tree. But did he share that information? Of course not. Instead, he showed her all the great things the fruit had to offer, nothing else. You know something? Satan still operates the same way today. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
Sin is deceiving. Sin often looks pleasant; we believe it will make us feel good or bring about something beneficial. The path of destruction runs far, however. The lustful thought that turns into an affair can destroy a marriage. A lie at work or an immoral business decision forces one out of work which may lead to bankruptcy or prison. An addiction destroys the one addicted and those around him/her. There are consequences for our sins. The consequence we should be most concerned with, though, is the separation from God sin brings about if we let it.
Are you ready for the good news? Romans chapter 6 can be difficult to grasp, but it is worth reading. Verse 14, one of my favorites from this chapter, offers the following assurance: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Throughout the chapter, we come to see that by believing Jesus to be our Savior, accepting what He has done for us, and turning our lives over to Him, we are set free from the curse of sin. That is wonderful news! It means sin has no power over us unless we give in to Satan.
In order to deflect Satan's attacks, we must protect ourselves. How? By putting on the armor of God. Gird your waist with truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Take the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. (See Ephesians 6:11-20)
Keeping a close relationship with our Heavenly Father offers the best protection. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10. God offers His strength to us so we can resist temptations. But we have to strive to remain close to Him. And when we do mess up, we must repent. God forgives us when we admit our wrongs. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18.
God loves us, and I hope you understand how much. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believer in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. 1 John 4:10 further states, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation of our sins." God's love is nothing short of amazing. After all, He not only knew how sin would entice us but also prepared a way for us to still enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. Hallelujah!
Still looking for instruction? Open your Bible. God's Word is filled with instruction and knowledge. The Bible is not just a book of stories or information. It's a journey. One which will take you directly to your Heavenly Father and away from sin.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us all to get this, to take this message to heart. Show us where we have taken the wrong steps. Convict us and show us Your truth. Cover us with your security so that the devil's attacks bounce away harmlessly. You have sacrificed your son for us. Help us to understand how powerful your love for us. Thank You for never forsaking us. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Devastation of Sin
by Charity Pence
This Week's Verse: Psalm 1:6 "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (NKJ)
What comes to mind when you think of sin? I've been reading through the book of Psalms, and there is a particular passage that stands out to me. "There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness." Psalm 38:3-5. My wounds are foul and festering. When I picture that, I see a terrible, painful sore oozing with pus. It's a nasty image, isn't it? But that is exactly what sin does to us.
The consequences of freely partaking in sin can be devastating. Sin weakens our body and makes us physically ill. David, the writer of the 38th Psalm, understood this very well. The physical toll is not the worst consequence, though. Sin wedges itself between us and God, causing a separation between us and our Heavenly Father. Isaiah 6:3 tells us God is holy, holy, holy. And in 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 we are reminded, "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man but God, who also has given us His holy spirit." So in choosing sin, we forsake God. For how can we stand in His presence, He who is most holy, when we are full of sin?
We can find comfort in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Whew. We can breathe easier now, right? Perhaps. But only if we've truly repented and made Christ our Lord. The question is this: if we are freely partaking in sin, are we truly repenting? Or are we foolish enough to think sinning is okay because we can repent for it later and be forgiven? Now don't get me wrong. The Bible assures us of God's grace and forgiveness. But that means we have to continually check ourselves and be sure we are truly striving to resist sin. This is where prayer comes in. The truth is, we can't do this on our own. We have a sinful nature. However, God fills us with His strength when we pray which allows us to resist the temptations we are faced with daily. Prayer is our strongest tool. We should use it more often.
Dear Heavenly Father, You know what sins we struggle with daily. You know the burden sin places on us. You call us to a life without sin because you know the damage it causes. Therefore, be with us, O Lord. Please fill us with your strength so we can resist the traps set for us by the devil. We are your children, and we wish to draw near to You. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Application: When you find yourself tempted this week, call out to God. He will always show us the correct path as long as we seek it.
Power Verses:
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Titus 2:11, 12 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age."
This Week's Verse: Psalm 1:6 "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (NKJ)
What comes to mind when you think of sin? I've been reading through the book of Psalms, and there is a particular passage that stands out to me. "There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness." Psalm 38:3-5. My wounds are foul and festering. When I picture that, I see a terrible, painful sore oozing with pus. It's a nasty image, isn't it? But that is exactly what sin does to us.
The consequences of freely partaking in sin can be devastating. Sin weakens our body and makes us physically ill. David, the writer of the 38th Psalm, understood this very well. The physical toll is not the worst consequence, though. Sin wedges itself between us and God, causing a separation between us and our Heavenly Father. Isaiah 6:3 tells us God is holy, holy, holy. And in 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 we are reminded, "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man but God, who also has given us His holy spirit." So in choosing sin, we forsake God. For how can we stand in His presence, He who is most holy, when we are full of sin?
We can find comfort in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Whew. We can breathe easier now, right? Perhaps. But only if we've truly repented and made Christ our Lord. The question is this: if we are freely partaking in sin, are we truly repenting? Or are we foolish enough to think sinning is okay because we can repent for it later and be forgiven? Now don't get me wrong. The Bible assures us of God's grace and forgiveness. But that means we have to continually check ourselves and be sure we are truly striving to resist sin. This is where prayer comes in. The truth is, we can't do this on our own. We have a sinful nature. However, God fills us with His strength when we pray which allows us to resist the temptations we are faced with daily. Prayer is our strongest tool. We should use it more often.
Dear Heavenly Father, You know what sins we struggle with daily. You know the burden sin places on us. You call us to a life without sin because you know the damage it causes. Therefore, be with us, O Lord. Please fill us with your strength so we can resist the traps set for us by the devil. We are your children, and we wish to draw near to You. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Application: When you find yourself tempted this week, call out to God. He will always show us the correct path as long as we seek it.
Power Verses:
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Titus 2:11, 12 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age."
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