Tag Archives: sin

April 15
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Uncategorized Aside

“Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.'” (I Samuel 15:24, NIV)

It is a sad thing when leaders yield to evil for fear of what others may say or do, as Saul did in today’s reading.

The Christian disciple’s ambition is to always — and everywhere — care more for what his or her heavenly Father says than what others say. Where there is disagreement, the child of God always sides with the Father.

Fear not what others may say or may do when you are faced with a moral decision.  “In all your ways acknowledge Him. . .”  – Luther 

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March 12
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“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NKJV)

Perhaps the only state worse than wrong doing is wrong being. 

We need to guard against becoming comfortable with a lifestyle that is contrary to God’s will and way.  This is what the Bible calls “sin.” 

Oswald Chambers eloquently describes the peril of a conscience that is no longer troubled by wrong-doing: “One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin.”

Stay close to God through obedience to His scriptures, and through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation, and gathering with other members of the family of God for worship and fellowship.  If you persist in these things, you will develop a heart that is sensitive to what pleases God — and what does not. This is the sure path to life, peace, and joy.  – Luther

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March 11
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Uncategorized Aside

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, NKJV)

We need to beware of thinking — as most of the world does — that because we have “gotten by” that we have, “gotten away.” 

We sin, but because we often do not immediately suffer the consequences of our sin, we think that we have gotten away with sinning.  This is akin to thinking that just because we have, somehow, avoided being pulled-over by the sheriff for exceeding the speed limit, that it is somehow okay to exceed the speed limit.

Don’t be fooled. Unlike the sheriff in the illustration above, we shall have to answer to God for all of our transgressions. 

God’s commandments are for our protection, and for our provision. Just because we are successful in flouting God’s law does not mean that we are wise.  We shall be called to give an accounting, whether in joy because we have obeyed and Christ stands with us; or in tears, because we have sinned and have no defense.  – Luther

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