"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
I had the privilege of working with some AWANA kids at church last night and this was one verse we went over. I got to also talk with the small group about what this verse means. It is amazing to know that at only 6 years old many of them already knew what Sin meant and who was the only perfect, sinless person who ever walked this earth.
In the last week, my own daughter has begun to ask questions about being saved and being baptized. While this is something I don't want to be pushy on, I can't tell you how excited my heart was to know that she was having these questions! In her 6 year old mind, she understands sin and how Jesus was sinless. She is fascinated with the idea of baptism and loves to watch others being baptized.
This verse came to mind this week as she and I talked. I also love, love, love the children's book by Stormie O'Martian called "The Prayer That Makes God Smile." It is a great book for children and helps them understand the sinner's prayer.
As I reflect on this verse, I realize that most days I walk through this life with little thought on how my sin separates me from God. I struggle with self-awareness of my sins yet this verse helps me to see my own sins more closely. I think that starting each day reciting this verse would help me be more aware as I walk through my day. Then to turn around and recite John 3:16! What a way to start my day!
How do you start your day? Do you recite a verse? I would love to hear about it!
Showing posts with label Sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sin. Show all posts
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Sin of Pride
"Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the earth." Genesis 11:4 (excerpt from 11:1-9)
The sin of pride has been around since Adam and Eve walked in the garden. Pride can sometimes slip up on us, blinding us of our true intentions. According to Dictionary.com, the word "pride" means a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance,merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. I believe that the sin of pride is one sin that can be one sin that is not premeditated in our hearts. I believe that sometimes we become prideful and only after God convicts us of the sin do we realize how our pride has overtaken us. Other times, like in the case of the builders of the tower of Babel, we can seek out a prideful nature, seeking a high opinion of ourselves or our own importance. The builders of the tower of Babel allowed the foundation of the tower to be built on pride. They had one purpose for the tower -- to build a name for themselves.
I have been reading a wonderful book called "Gods and Kings" by Lynn Austin. In it, King Ahaz is ruling over the land with a huge sense of pride. King Ahaz is worshipping any god that comes along that he thinks will bless him. He even offers his eldest son to the pit of fire as a sacrifice. King Ahaz believes his title makes him superior and pride has taken hold of his heart. As I continue to read through this book, I see how much pride can destroy not only your own heart but can also affect the lives of the people around you. For King Ahaz, his position of leadership and sense of entitlement gave him an inflated sense of self and the foundation of his reign was pride.
Several years ago I had the privilege of serving in a leadership position in my former church. I fell in love with the opportunity that God had placed in my life. I loved serving with other women and feeling like I was doing what God had called me to do. Yet I did have a battle over pride and my own prideful spirit at that time. You see, while I was serving in this capacity of which I loved, I sometimes found myself thinking very highly of myself and the works that I had accomplished while serving. I started allowing other women's compliments of my service to inflate my ego. I remember a sermon that my pastor preached on those sneaky sins such as pride. I remember sitting in that service thinking I don't think I have any such sin my own life. Over that week, God began a full assault of conviction to get me to recognize my own sin of pride. While my head was being inflated with compliments and cherishing in my own mind, my heart was turning dark. God worked that entire week to get me to acknowledge my sin and turn from it.
Sometimes we seek to make a name for ourselves. Many times we seek to crave an inflated sense of importance and merit. Yet in other instances, the actions we take hide the foundation of pride underneath, and we find ourselves acknowledging the prideful heart after much prayer and realization of the conviction of God. Whatever has created a Prideful Heart in your life, I pray that you will allow God to show it to you, acknowledge its presence, and seek His forgiveness. All praise and glory to the One who earned it!
The sin of pride has been around since Adam and Eve walked in the garden. Pride can sometimes slip up on us, blinding us of our true intentions. According to Dictionary.com, the word "pride" means a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance,merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. I believe that the sin of pride is one sin that can be one sin that is not premeditated in our hearts. I believe that sometimes we become prideful and only after God convicts us of the sin do we realize how our pride has overtaken us. Other times, like in the case of the builders of the tower of Babel, we can seek out a prideful nature, seeking a high opinion of ourselves or our own importance. The builders of the tower of Babel allowed the foundation of the tower to be built on pride. They had one purpose for the tower -- to build a name for themselves.
I have been reading a wonderful book called "Gods and Kings" by Lynn Austin. In it, King Ahaz is ruling over the land with a huge sense of pride. King Ahaz is worshipping any god that comes along that he thinks will bless him. He even offers his eldest son to the pit of fire as a sacrifice. King Ahaz believes his title makes him superior and pride has taken hold of his heart. As I continue to read through this book, I see how much pride can destroy not only your own heart but can also affect the lives of the people around you. For King Ahaz, his position of leadership and sense of entitlement gave him an inflated sense of self and the foundation of his reign was pride.
Several years ago I had the privilege of serving in a leadership position in my former church. I fell in love with the opportunity that God had placed in my life. I loved serving with other women and feeling like I was doing what God had called me to do. Yet I did have a battle over pride and my own prideful spirit at that time. You see, while I was serving in this capacity of which I loved, I sometimes found myself thinking very highly of myself and the works that I had accomplished while serving. I started allowing other women's compliments of my service to inflate my ego. I remember a sermon that my pastor preached on those sneaky sins such as pride. I remember sitting in that service thinking I don't think I have any such sin my own life. Over that week, God began a full assault of conviction to get me to recognize my own sin of pride. While my head was being inflated with compliments and cherishing in my own mind, my heart was turning dark. God worked that entire week to get me to acknowledge my sin and turn from it.
Sometimes we seek to make a name for ourselves. Many times we seek to crave an inflated sense of importance and merit. Yet in other instances, the actions we take hide the foundation of pride underneath, and we find ourselves acknowledging the prideful heart after much prayer and realization of the conviction of God. Whatever has created a Prideful Heart in your life, I pray that you will allow God to show it to you, acknowledge its presence, and seek His forgiveness. All praise and glory to the One who earned it!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Praying for the Sinner
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)
Sin is alive and well in the world today. We all know people in our lives that we continue to pray for as they battle through different sins that may ensnare them daily. We, as Christians, find ourselves satisfied that we have prayed for the "sinners" around us, asking God to forgive them and help them see their shortcomings.
I know this woman who is a great and loyal friend, but who can be prideful and self-righteous many times in our conversations. This woman can be judgmental at times and entertains gossip more than she should. You see, the one thing I have prayed about with this woman is the fact that she continues to deny her own sin. She can immediately see the sins of others yet fails to admit her own sin. She often brushes off her sin as an accident or an indiscretion, which a quick "my bad" can fix.
If you haven't already guessed this woman is actually me. Yes, I, like you, am a sinner. It is just as easy for me to overlook my own sins as I sit back and judge the sins of others. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we ALL have sinned. Everyone of us has sin in our lives. We ALL fall short of the glory of God. Yet there is Hope!
If you stop at verse 23, you would assume that the verse would go on to say the following -- "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and now there will be hell to pay!" Yet, verse 24 offers hope not damnation. We are "justified freely by his grace!" Praise the Lord!
As you spend time with Lord, don't just stop at praying for the other sinners in your lives. Pray for the sinner in your own life!
Sin is alive and well in the world today. We all know people in our lives that we continue to pray for as they battle through different sins that may ensnare them daily. We, as Christians, find ourselves satisfied that we have prayed for the "sinners" around us, asking God to forgive them and help them see their shortcomings.
I know this woman who is a great and loyal friend, but who can be prideful and self-righteous many times in our conversations. This woman can be judgmental at times and entertains gossip more than she should. You see, the one thing I have prayed about with this woman is the fact that she continues to deny her own sin. She can immediately see the sins of others yet fails to admit her own sin. She often brushes off her sin as an accident or an indiscretion, which a quick "my bad" can fix.
If you haven't already guessed this woman is actually me. Yes, I, like you, am a sinner. It is just as easy for me to overlook my own sins as I sit back and judge the sins of others. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we ALL have sinned. Everyone of us has sin in our lives. We ALL fall short of the glory of God. Yet there is Hope!
If you stop at verse 23, you would assume that the verse would go on to say the following -- "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and now there will be hell to pay!" Yet, verse 24 offers hope not damnation. We are "justified freely by his grace!" Praise the Lord!
As you spend time with Lord, don't just stop at praying for the other sinners in your lives. Pray for the sinner in your own life!
Friday, July 8, 2011
We Bow Down
"I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame." Psalm 138:2
If you have turned on your TV or opened a news website in the past week, chances are you have been bombarded with feelings of pity, unimaginable sorrow, and even downright anger over many recent news stories. From gunshots to disappearances to murders, our world is full of sin and sinners. We often question how someone could hurt another or how one person could torment another without remorse. Our hearts ache for the sorrows of others as they live with the pain of losing a loved one or having a loved one hurt by acts of violence. It is completely normal for us, as humans, to be upset or to feel the pain of others in those situations. Our hearts ache along with our neighbors for the wrongs of this world.
God knew that the world would one day be filled with darkness, and He proclaimed that His vengeance would come down upon those who turn their backs upon the Lord and take up with Satan. One day each one of us will have to answer for the sins we have committed, whether it was the lie you told your parents or the torment of a classmate or the gossip about a neighbor. To the Father, these are all the same as the people who commit murder! God the Father hurts when we sin. Yet He promised that one day, the darkness of this world would bow down to Him upon His return.
Until that time, I can only cling to the worlds of Psalm 138:2 because even in these dark days, God is always faithful. He is always just. He loves us with an unfailing love. I pray that each one of us will turn to him and praise Him, bowing down to His holy temple, and thanking Him for saving us so that one day we can live in Glory with Him!
Dear Lord, we may not understand the sins of this world. We look around us and see unjust acts and unpunished people yet we stand firm in the knowledge that you will return. In the meantime, Lord, I pray that you hear our praise and thanksgiving for your unfailing love, your vast forgiveness, and your open arms. Amen!
If you have turned on your TV or opened a news website in the past week, chances are you have been bombarded with feelings of pity, unimaginable sorrow, and even downright anger over many recent news stories. From gunshots to disappearances to murders, our world is full of sin and sinners. We often question how someone could hurt another or how one person could torment another without remorse. Our hearts ache for the sorrows of others as they live with the pain of losing a loved one or having a loved one hurt by acts of violence. It is completely normal for us, as humans, to be upset or to feel the pain of others in those situations. Our hearts ache along with our neighbors for the wrongs of this world.
God knew that the world would one day be filled with darkness, and He proclaimed that His vengeance would come down upon those who turn their backs upon the Lord and take up with Satan. One day each one of us will have to answer for the sins we have committed, whether it was the lie you told your parents or the torment of a classmate or the gossip about a neighbor. To the Father, these are all the same as the people who commit murder! God the Father hurts when we sin. Yet He promised that one day, the darkness of this world would bow down to Him upon His return.
Until that time, I can only cling to the worlds of Psalm 138:2 because even in these dark days, God is always faithful. He is always just. He loves us with an unfailing love. I pray that each one of us will turn to him and praise Him, bowing down to His holy temple, and thanking Him for saving us so that one day we can live in Glory with Him!
Dear Lord, we may not understand the sins of this world. We look around us and see unjust acts and unpunished people yet we stand firm in the knowledge that you will return. In the meantime, Lord, I pray that you hear our praise and thanksgiving for your unfailing love, your vast forgiveness, and your open arms. Amen!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Indulging the Flesh
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13
Our pastor is currently speaking on a sermon series about the Holy Spirit. He said something today that fit in with this idea so I thought I would borrow it! He said, "When you became saved in Christ Jesus, God gave you a new nature; however, He left the old nature there. That is why we struggle with our flesh." I had never really thought of it like that.
Here in Galatians, God is confirming that we as His children were called to be free. Free! We aren't to be bound by sin or desires of the flesh. Our fleshy nature is innate. Our culture teaches us if we want something, we should have it. If you want something bad enough, you should have it right now. Our nature is to satisfy our "momentary" desires. Think about that. Desires of the flesh usually only satisfy us for a moment. God's freedom and grace will satisfy us forever.
Galatians 5:13 goes further saying that instead of indulging in the flesh, we should "serve one another humbly in love." What if God had put a period after the phrase "serve one another" instead? I believe that God knew just telling us to serve would only give us permission to do a duty instead of honoring Him fully. So he said, "serve one another humbly in love." It is one thing to serve but yet another to serve humbly in love. To serve humbly in love requires us to turn away from the flesh, turning from our own desires.
When is the last time God asked you to "serve one another?" Did you respond to His calling and serve "humbly in love?"
Our pastor is currently speaking on a sermon series about the Holy Spirit. He said something today that fit in with this idea so I thought I would borrow it! He said, "When you became saved in Christ Jesus, God gave you a new nature; however, He left the old nature there. That is why we struggle with our flesh." I had never really thought of it like that.
Here in Galatians, God is confirming that we as His children were called to be free. Free! We aren't to be bound by sin or desires of the flesh. Our fleshy nature is innate. Our culture teaches us if we want something, we should have it. If you want something bad enough, you should have it right now. Our nature is to satisfy our "momentary" desires. Think about that. Desires of the flesh usually only satisfy us for a moment. God's freedom and grace will satisfy us forever.
Galatians 5:13 goes further saying that instead of indulging in the flesh, we should "serve one another humbly in love." What if God had put a period after the phrase "serve one another" instead? I believe that God knew just telling us to serve would only give us permission to do a duty instead of honoring Him fully. So he said, "serve one another humbly in love." It is one thing to serve but yet another to serve humbly in love. To serve humbly in love requires us to turn away from the flesh, turning from our own desires.
When is the last time God asked you to "serve one another?" Did you respond to His calling and serve "humbly in love?"
Monday, May 16, 2011
SIN
"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin....So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8: 34, 36
Sin can be somewhat easy to explain to your children -- right vs wrong or that which pleases God vs that which doesn't -- yet when it comes to the Sin that inhabits our lives, we can easily overlook it. Each of us, whether saved or unsaved, struggles daily with sin. After my pastor asked a poignant question this morning about which one sin do you struggle with daily, I began to ponder my own life. Honestly, I believe one sin I struggle with daily is pride. Not to say that I don't struggle with any other sins from time to time but I believe that pride keeps me from fully placing my trust in God. For some crazy reason, I continue to believe that in some situations I can do a better job than God. I believe in my own abilities more than the abilities of the Father. If you were to ponder you own life, what one sin would you say you struggle with almost daily?
Sin is a constant struggle. I love the illustration of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. There have been times in my life where I have felt just like that! Our pastor used an illustration yesterday that really hit home for me -- An Indian and a missionary were discussing the struggle between following the Spirit or following the flesh. The missionary asked the Indian, "What is your interpretation of this struggle?" The Indian replies, "I find the one that overtakes my life is the one that I feed."
Stop and think about that statement. What we feed our souls is reflected in our lives. If we feed our souls with the desires of the flesh, it will be reflected in the way we live our lives. The desires of the flesh can only lead to sin and away from God. Yet if we feed our souls with the truth of the Spirit, our lives will reflect that of God.
What are you feeding your soul? Is your life a reflection of the flesh or the Spirit?
Sin can be somewhat easy to explain to your children -- right vs wrong or that which pleases God vs that which doesn't -- yet when it comes to the Sin that inhabits our lives, we can easily overlook it. Each of us, whether saved or unsaved, struggles daily with sin. After my pastor asked a poignant question this morning about which one sin do you struggle with daily, I began to ponder my own life. Honestly, I believe one sin I struggle with daily is pride. Not to say that I don't struggle with any other sins from time to time but I believe that pride keeps me from fully placing my trust in God. For some crazy reason, I continue to believe that in some situations I can do a better job than God. I believe in my own abilities more than the abilities of the Father. If you were to ponder you own life, what one sin would you say you struggle with almost daily?
Sin is a constant struggle. I love the illustration of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. There have been times in my life where I have felt just like that! Our pastor used an illustration yesterday that really hit home for me -- An Indian and a missionary were discussing the struggle between following the Spirit or following the flesh. The missionary asked the Indian, "What is your interpretation of this struggle?" The Indian replies, "I find the one that overtakes my life is the one that I feed."
Stop and think about that statement. What we feed our souls is reflected in our lives. If we feed our souls with the desires of the flesh, it will be reflected in the way we live our lives. The desires of the flesh can only lead to sin and away from God. Yet if we feed our souls with the truth of the Spirit, our lives will reflect that of God.
What are you feeding your soul? Is your life a reflection of the flesh or the Spirit?
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