Category Archives: Temptation & Sin

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June 20, 2014

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Fear & Doubt, Forgiveness, Joy, Prayer, Temptation & Sin

IT’S GARBAGE DAY

When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long. … Then I confessed my sins to you and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord,” and you forgave my guilt. [Psalm 32:3, 5 (NCV)]

Most of us aren’t good at admitting when we’ve sinned or even misbehaved. In fact, some of us are pretty good at denying it altogether. When my children were small, the guilty party in our household always seemed to be someone named “Not me” or “I don’t know.” One child always said, “The fox did it!” Is it the fear of punishment or the fear of not being forgiven that so often prevents us from acknowledging our sins?

As a girl, whenever I was caught misbehaving or admitted to disobedience, I knew I could expect yelling, tears, humiliation, disgrace and punishment. Forgiveness wasn’t guaranteed and wrongs were often rehashed again and again. I knew I deserved the punishment, but it was forgiveness that I craved. So, like many people, I did my best to hide my problems, failures and transgressions. Hiding sins, however, is like hiding garbage; as the guilt and shame accumulate, sooner or later things are going to stink!

Our Heavenly Father  gives us a guarantee our earthly parents didn’t: unconditional forgiveness. It’s amazing how easy it is to confess one’s sins when assured of forgiveness. Today, if there is any guilt or shame stinking up your life, confess your sins to God and be restored. There’s no secret so shameful and no sin so vile that He won’t forgive. Toss the disgusting garbage of past transgressions and start fresh today.

Father, help us acknowledge our wrongs and accept responsibility for our transgressions. Listen to our litany of offenses as we offer our confessions to you. Empty our lives of guilt and shame; fill us with joy at your merciful love and promised forgiveness.

When God forgives us and purifies us of our sin, He also forgets it. Forgiveness results in God dropping the charges against us. [Billy Graham]

If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done. [1 John 1:8-9 (NCV)]

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June 16, 2014

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Temptation & Sin

DON’T GET BURNT (OR BIT)

Burnt or bitten-cropYou cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes, and you cannot walk on hot coals without burning your feet. [Proverbs 6:27-28 (NCV)]

There it was, perfectly placed near the pathway in the Botanic Gardens: a small alligator. “What an authentic looking bronze,” was my first thought. I stepped off the path to get a better view and stood just a few inches from it. As I wondered why a bronze alligator would be in the Asian garden, it finally occurred to me that it just might be real. “What’s the harm?” I thought. “I’m just looking, not touching.” I took a photo and stepped back. Two days later, I returned to the garden. In place of the alligator was a sign cautioning people, “Danger, alligators might be present.”

Sin is a little like that alligator. There is rarely a “danger” sign and it doesn’t always look like sin; often, it seems innocent and harmless. We venture near for just a look; we’re not planning on touching it. What’s a little flirtation with the forbidden? Does it never occur to us that sin could turn on us? That gator could have taken a nasty bite out of my foot; sin can take a lot more from our lives.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT)]

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June 10, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Faith & Hope, Temptation & Sin

IS SOMETHING HOLDING US BACK?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. [Hebrews 12:1-2a (NLT)]

When a horse is hobbled, its front legs are tied loosely together. The hobbling limits the animal’s movement; he can graze and is able to slowly move a short distance, but he can’t go far and he surely can’t go fast. Sometimes slaves and prisoners were hobbled with shackles around their ankles to keep them from running away.

Are there things that are hobbling us or weighing us down to keep us from running the race that is before us?

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. [Galatians 7:7-8 (NLT)]

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May 22, 2014

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Bible Stories, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin

What Will it Be: Dust or Ink?

Lord, hope of Israel, those who leave you will be shamed. People who quit following the Lord will be like a name written in the dust, because they have left the Lord, the spring of living water. [Jeremiah 17:13 (NCV)]

 “…This woman was caught having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband. The law of Moses commands that we stone to death every woman who does this. What do you say we should do?” …

But Jesus bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they continued to ask Jesus their question, he raised up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her.” Then Jesus bent over again and wrote on the ground. [John 8:4-5, 6b-8 (NCV)]

I’ve always wondered why and what Jesus was writing on the ground that day when the adulterous woman was brought to him. What is the reason for the inclusion of this detail? The IVP New Testament Commentary Series sheds some light on this incident. It was unlawful to write on a Sabbath or holy day (and this was likely the last day of the Feast of Shelters.) One could, however, write in the dust. By writing only in the dusty ground, Jesus showed that he knew religious law.

That tells me why Jesus was writing in the dirt, but what could he have been writing? The IVP Commentary speculates that Jesus could have been writing the words of Jeremiah and/or the names of the woman’s accusers. Since they were Pharisees and teachers of religious law, they would all have been familiar with Jeremiah’s warning. They knew they were sinners and that those who sin against the Lord would soon be forgotten; their names would blow away like the dust. We will never know why or what Jesus was writing that day but, as for me, I want indelible ink (not dust) used to write my name in God’s book.

But you should not be happy because the spirits obey you but because your names are written in heaven. [Luke 10:20 (NCV)]

The glory and the honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing unclean and no one who does shameful things or tells lies will ever go into it. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the city. [Revelation 21:26-27 (NCV)]

 

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May 14, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin

We Always Have a Choice

Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. [Deuteronomy 30:15 (NLT)]

God always gives us choices. Adam and Eve made a bad choice when they decided to eat the apple and mankind hasn’t stopped making poor choices since then. The Israelites chose the golden calf, Samson chose Delilah, Judas chose 30 pieces of silver, and the crowd chose Barabbas. Unfortunately, it is no better today. Some choices (the blue or white shirt, pizza or burgers, the Cubs or Sox) are of little or no consequence. Others, such as the choice of a spouse, career, or friends are of major importance. Certain decisions, however, have eternal consequences. Will we choose to love or hate, to believe or not, to follow Christ or man, and to serve God or ourselves? What choices will you make today?

Tell all the people, “This is what the Lord says: Take your choice of life or death!” [Jeremiah 21:8 (NLT)]

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May 4, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Temptation & Sin

We Can Stand Strong

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. [1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (MSG)]

Lord, there are so many temptations in life. We can be judgmental or unforgiving, allow anger to lead us, let people or things threaten our relationships, or fill our minds with trash. It’s so easy to speak badly of someone, have unreasonable expectations of others and empty excuses for our failings, and to pass the blame. We haven’t even gotten to pride, selfishness or impatience! Oh, Lord, the list is endless. Thank you for being with us today. May your Holy Spirit help us stand strong.