Too much focus on sin?

 

In the past week, I’ve heard Christians say that having a focus on our sinfulness can be morbid and discouraging. While that is true particularly for those who tend to be negative and pessimistic, it seems to me that the opposite extreme is far more dangerous. If I refuse or deny the sin in my life, I will never grow to be more like Jesus. Instead, I will be stuck in bondage to the things in my heart and life that deny His saving power.

When King David was confronted concerning his sin with Bathsheba, he said, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:3) The rest of this psalm is far from morbid or discouraging. It is a strong statement of God's forgiving and cleansing grace.

David also wrote the following psalm that first describes what happens if sin is not acknowledged. He then speaks of the joy that is ours when we take that sin to the Lord:

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:1–11)

I’ve been mildly rebuked for defining sin as simply going my own way and not listening to God or regarding His wisdom. Many will define sin in degrees, even say, “But I have not murdered anyone” or done something illegal or disgusting. However, just going my own way involves listening to and following the world, the flesh, and/or the devil. Some of that can be subtle because it involves motivations rather than actions, particularly if the actions themselves seem innocent. For instance, I could take a pie next door to welcome a new neighbor — or to show off my baking skills. One is love; the other is pride and even that “love” could be pride if I brag about it.

Sin is subtle. Yet God does not leave it to me to examine my every thought, word, or deed. He does that. He will show me what needs to be confessed and cleansed. This part of being saved and sanctified is up to Him, not up to self-examination or what some call morbid navel-gazing. My part is listening and being honest with Him as He teaches me. It is also vital that I do as David did — praising God for His grace and for taking care of me, transforming my life, and not allowing sin to make me its slave.

PRAY: Jesus, confessing sin is humbling, yet You want humility, not pride. Admitting failure is not popular, but You want integrity, not hypocrisy. Your values are not the world’s values, and Your ways are so much higher than ours. Keep my focus on You, even when I’ve let myself slide back into the bondage of sin and need to again rely on Your grace and saving power. Far better to do that than any alternatives!

Falling short . . . again

Exodus 7; Job 24; Luke 10; 1 Corinthians 11

Luke strings together several stories about Jesus’ activities. In looking for a common thread, several things caught my attention:

First, Jesus sent out workers with instructions: take only the essentials, what to do if people received them, and how to respond to those who rejected their message about the kingdom of God. For the last two, He said:

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)

Second, Jesus told His workers not to be too excited about their ability to do what they had been doing. Their challenge to the enemy and their authority over his demons was wonderful but He said to them:

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19–20)

Third, Jesus also spoke to the Holy Spirit about His revelation to His followers. He knew that some knowledge comes by experience, but the knowledge of God and His Son is revealed, and that revelation is not given to everyone:

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:21–24)

After that, Jesus then told the familiar story of the good Samaritan to a lawyer who tested him with how to inherit eternal life. Jesus gave this man the two greatest commandments, but this expert in law hedged by asking who the neighbor is that he must love. Jesus made it clear that the love He was talking about was unconditional regardless of the person who receives it. Those who love like this pay no attention to customs, rules, the other person’s status, or any other excuses that would keep them from offering love to everyone, even enemies.

Finally He went to the home of Martha and Mary and Luke tells another familiar story of Martha’s distraction over serving and Mary choosing the “best thing” — to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching.

Reading these raises questions about my own life. Does having people reject or accept me mean that they will do the same with Jesus? Or am I more concerned about being accepted than how they respond to Him?

Do I reject (this word means to separate myself from) those who reject the message God gives me? Or do I get cold toward them because they have not listened to me, making this an issue about me instead of their eternal well-being and their attitude toward Jesus?

Is rejoicing over my salvation far more important than God giving me power over my spiritual enemies? Do I let God-given victories become a reason to boast rather than rejoicing in a salvation that gives me nothing I can boast about? Is my identity in my accomplishments rather than who I am in Christ?

Am I delighted to know Him by revelation — such an amazing gift? Or am I more interested in knowing Him by my experiences, walking by sight rather than by faith?

Can I love my enemies? This is challenging. I know another Christian who is so repulsive physically that I don’t even want to stand near him. I am not loving toward at least one neighbor. Are there others?

Do I choose the best thing? Or does my to-do list keep me from listening and learning from Jesus, from putting myself in a place where His truth is more easily revealed, understood and obeyed?

Application for all this is painfully obvious . . .  

Living by the Spirit

Today ends the readings in Galatians. It also marks for me a much deeper recognition of the power of the old nature. My sinful self can take even legitimate desires like the hunger for food, the desire to do well, and a dozen other things and try to fulfill them in ways that God does not sanction.

I’ve been reading Atomic Habits and it uses ordinary life to show how easily I have formed bad habits. While I don’t agree with the ways he suggests how to change those (he knows nothing about confession of sin and relying on Jesus), I can certainly see things that need to be changed. Some of them are not too vital but one or two involved fleshy responses to personal needs. They don’t work. They also deny God.

I’m convicted as I read again about the false teachers in Galatia who were luring the church away from trusting God. They wanted to keep one Law of God and were convinced that this made them better than others who didn’t do the same as they did. All their efforts were sinful and from the flesh . . .

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:12–16)

I tried reading this passage by substituting things that Christians can get hung up on. Some are silly, at least to me, like “Men must wear a suit and tie to church” or “Women must wear a hat to church.” I’ve known church-goers who insist on such ‘rules’ and try to convince others to conform. This is folly and fleshy.

As for my fleshy ways, most are rooted in deeper issues. If I read them into this passage, I can see the black and white that before has been gray. The black is stop relying on the flesh to fill the gaps in my life. The white is putting all my trust in Jesus who has promised to meet all my needs . . . and if He doesn’t, to trust Him anyway! The gray is not realizing that I was in a fog.

The author of the Bible study book I am reading says this: “When applied, the Gospel gives the individual freedom from bondage to sin, victory over the flesh (the old nature within), and the ability to show forth works of righteousness. All this is set within the framework of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You know my heart. I recently prayed the request in Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24) and You have again answered that prayer. I know the only way to stop living according to the flesh in any part of my life is to confess the sin, trusting You to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And You add: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Today’s thankful list . . .

Another day of sunshine and clear blue sky.

Another long walk in a lovely day.

My hairdresser.

Kids making mac and cheese amid lots of noise.

Chocolate bars.

Leftover Asian food.

Talented artists.

The ability to make design changes out of mistakes.

God looks at the smallest details

Today I’m thinking about the things in my life that are not pleasing to God. Many would say things like, “Oh everyone does that” or “This is not a big deal.” However, since these generally fall into the categories of self-indulgence or doing whatever feels good, that also puts them into the category of sin.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, italics mine)

Turning to my own way puts me astray from God, no matter how small the turning. This includes stuff like playing a game when I know I should be doing something else or eating more food when I know I’ve already had enough. God does not measure self-indulgence and self-will by degrees but by a line that is crossed.

Tozer’s devotional for today comes from the following passage. It offers several ‘do this instead’ attitudes and actions that can easily replace ‘I’ll do it my way.’

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15–22)

Some of these do not hit me directly, yet all show that my mental and physical activities should not be about my ‘I-wants’ because God has a better to-do list.

Doing good to others is a biggie. I live in a small complex with at least one-third of the residents in needy circumstances. I don’t need to hide behind my own busyness. There are many ways to do good as He says.

Rejoice always. Replace any whining or complaining.

Pray without ceasing. Replace all wandering and fragmented thoughts and talk to God instead.

Give thanks all the time. God wants me to be thankful and has provided a million blessings to make it easy. I’ve no reasons or excuses to grumble or complain.

Do not quench the Spirit. When He gives me a godly idea, run with it rather than throw on the cold water of procrastination or any other excuses, usually that I’m ‘too busy.’

Pay attention to what God is saying through others. Do not dismiss a sermon by applying it to someone else. Also remember it is okay to test or question new or odd ideas, tossing out the false and hanging on to what is good. Don’t fall for everything — I know how to do this part — most of the time.

Abstain from every form of evil. This ranges from downright awful stuff to those ‘little’ things that turn my heart away from God to doing what pleases me (or the demands of others). Pay attention. It is not okay to wander off, either literally or in my mind.

Tozer says, “To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world.” This means me too. The very next verses from the above passage say:

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, italics mine)

Completely, all of me . . . and the good news is that I’m not asked to do this by myself.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You are convicting me of a lot of seemingly ‘little’ but foolish things that I do, say or just think about. You have said that sin flows out of the heart, so You care about my imagination as well as my actions, my selfish pursuits as well as the things I should be doing instead. Grant me today the ability to meditate as Your Spirit leads and to let You drive the above convictions deeper into my heart and life.