Sin taints our view. It keeps us from seeing clearly. Like when my son borrows my sunglasses for 10 minutes. It's as if someone told him, "See how many fingerprints you can smear on those lenses. Hurry! And make sure, whatever you do, don't touch any other part of the glasses except the lenses! Your Dad loves fingerprints!" Forget about it. You're not going to see your hand in front of your face. This is sin. It completely distorts and corrupts the way we see things. Everything!
Sin settles. It removes us from the presence of a Holy God. It refuses to "abide in Him". Sin causes wandering sheep to run like cheetahs away from their shepherd. Although I would love to see an actual sheep in a dead 60mph sprint, when that sheep is you or me...and we're moving in the opposite direction of our Protector and Provider...it's dangerous.
Sin excuses. It whispers excuses in my ear. It gives me multiple reasons and rationalizations - all of which are still, at the end of the day, sin.
Sin not only refuses grace - turning it's back on grace extended - but it also refuses mercy - turning it's back on extending grace. Sin blinds us to our own shortcomings, while magnifying everyone else's. Sin points fingers. Sin points very big, stiff fingers.
"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is a log in your own eye? Your hypocrite, first take the log our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." - Jesus (Matthew 7:3-5)
"You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.... No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:5-6, 9)
When sin blinds, distorts, excuses, settles, and corrupts our view, there's not enough Windex in the world to wipe those windows clean. ONLY the blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient.
Lord, help us to see our sin when it separates us from You. And to restore our brothers and sisters when they are led away. Transform us! Help us to see our sin...and to remember that Your Cross and Your resurrection wiped it away. Thank You, Jesus, that You have given us victory over sin and changed our view forever!
Dig Deeper
1 John 1:5-2:6
Hebrews 9 & 10
Romans 6 & 7
5 comments:
Quite timely this post is for me. I have been faced with a situation with a friend who has confided in me regarding marital strife and how she is entertaining negative outside influences. She is not viewing the outside influences in her life as sin, however, on the contrary she expects her spouse to deal and accept her choices. She claims Christ as her victor.
I have read these verses over again of judgement. This friend has not sinned against me. She has just confided in me. As I process this information my mind goes past the sin and sees the long term effect of her actions. There is just writing on the wall that a marriage is being destroyed and children caught in the middle.
What is my responsibility with this information as a believer other than pray? stick to my own sin? retract the email I sent earlier to you?(should have read the blog...first?) ignore the situation...wouldn't that be condoning? Truth in love, yet is that just spiritual judgement?
If this person is a Christian, 1 Cor. 5:12-13 and Galatians 6:1-3 lead me to believe that we are called to confront sin in each others lives. As you said, it has to be done in love.
Not knowing by "Captain Caveman" who I'm talking to or if you're a male/female, I would also say that if you are a male, this friend needs counsel and exhortation from a Christian woman. Accountability from the opposite sex is never a good idea.
Hope this makes sense and helps.
Good post Brian. I might add something here Brian. Its seems to me that when sin invades the church (little c not Big C), apathy and sloth tend to be more prevalent than overt judgmental attitudes and behaviors. Yes, sinners can mask their sin in being "judgmental" - in the Pharisaical sense. But what I tend to see is apathy and a abnormal sense of people not testing or righteously judging others in love. Instead, what we begin to see is a wider and wider acceptance of sin. Before you know it we have allowed all sorts of behaviors and attitudes of self-centeredness to infiltrate - all the while no one speaks up or takes notice (usually because the guilty will tell everyone else how we as "Christians" are not allow to judge, but only God can do that") Really? A good reading of 1 Corinthians 5 should clear this matter up altogether.
The truth is sin in most cases cause apathy and acceptance of sin to be more wide spread than pointing the finger in hypocritical judgment. The mantra I hear out of most "churches" today is "don't you dare judge me" - in actuality what they are really saying is don't you dare tell me I have sin in my life and tell me I am wrong. This false humiliation is a spirit of pride and is just that false humility - for true humility would welcome loving correction into their lives.
Thank you both for your insight. I have been chewing on I Cor 5 and I believe I am slowly digesting it. I don't recall studying this- not the topical Sunday sermon message. But there is no way to sugar coat the for word "expel". Thank you for adding Gal. 6:1-3 to encourage further understanding. Now it is apparent why my spirit was so disturbed within me.
God reminded me that I have developed a relationship with this person and she has been trusting me as a friend. I would not be a faithful friend by ignoring and dismissing concerns of a wandering heart.
I prayed that the Lord would provide the opportunity for me to share my concerns. He is always so faithful. I was able to address my concerns and she at first gave excuses for her actions. She surprised me a couple hours later thanking me for sharing with her. At this point, I have to trust that the Holy Spirit will wrestle inside her so she will consciously make the right priorities and reclaim the covenant of her marriage.
I do prefer isolating in my cave dwelling. Keeping myself in check is so much easier with my righteous to do list. How pride and apathy can so easily sneak into my everyday and the thought of getting messy is completely ridiculous. I have been so very stretched venturing past the opening of my cave and using my mouth to bring loving exhortations.
Thank you again for your support.
Good word guys. Agree with you Preston. Preached this morning on Ex. 32 and how Aaron's acceptance of the people's sin LED them away from God. Appreciate you sharing.
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