What’s the Cost of Sin?
We talked yesterday about shame and what it can do to us. But what about
sin? If shame can isolate us, the knowledge of our own sin can destroy us
if we allow it. Of course, if we are addicted to that sin, then we can be
completely enthralled by it while it’s destroying us. That’s the power of the
enemy working deep within. It’s insidious, thoroughly nasty, and an evil
mistress.
Bethel’s senior pastor, Bill Johnson, has said, “A Christian only sins because
he or she believes a lie.” Whatever the sin is, big or small (to you), your
being caught up in it will result from a lie you believe about you,
your circumstances, or your abilities. The good news is that you’re no more
stuck with it than the prodigal son who treated his father appallingly. He
returned home truly repentant and was totally forgiven, his sin forgotten.
Jesus taught us to pray a simple little prayer, the one we call the Lord’s
Prayer. In it, there’s the line “Forgive us our trespasses (sins).” Jesus knows
full well that we will fall short but tells us that so long as we acknowledge
and repent of our mistakes, we can leave sin behind us and move on. We’ll
be thinking more about forgiveness on Day 17.
Repenting isn’t being sorry for being caught. It’s a heart change that
says, “I did it, and I choose to do a complete U-turn away from that
sin” and puts us back where we were before we ever got caught up in it.
Remember what Paul said in Romans 3:23 NIV, “For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God.” No one is alone in their sin.
Reading:
Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of
redemption by his blood – the total cancellation of our sins – all because
of the cascading riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7 TPT
Also Read:
Acts 3:19
Romans 8:1
Prayer and Response:
Determine to see yourself as a saint and not a sinner. Read the Romans
8:1 passage mentioned above and thank God for it! Thank Him that
we can go to Him as a loving, compassionate Father and that He’s not
a finger-wagging kind of God that makes us earn our way back into
His favour. Thank Him for already favouring us because of what Jesus has
done. Try writing your thanks to Him as a letter.