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Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
James 4:17

Committing to a life resisting sin just got a lot more interesting, didn’t it?

Staying away from sin meant to me “don’t do bad.” Living a broader life of discipleship also meant “do good.” Both were centered around what a person did and how they acted.

Helping that old lady across the road = good.
Tripping her in the middle of the road = bad.

Simple enough.

However, this verse presents a broader picture of sin. We sin both by “doing bad” (not stated here in this verse, but certainly elsewhere) and by “not doing good.” This is certainly a higher standard, pushing into action when we might otherwise sit aside. Being neutral is equivalent to being bad. No action when action is required is a sin just like committing a wrong.

This sets a higher bar for our life on earth, fully recognizing our sinful nature. We cannot fully succeed in doing everything that is right, but it’s a standard worth striving for. Don’t sit aside and be a casual Christian. Jump in and ACT in the name of God!

Be God’s — every day.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

We’ve all given or received those apologies that didn’t seem sincere. We were sorry more because we got caught than because we did the act in the first place. There was some regret, but not so much that it left you a changed person.

The same concept exists as we ask for out sins to be forgiven. We can a bit bummed we made a mistake… Which may not have been painful enough that we feel changed. Or, we can recognize how broken we are, and have a sense of commitment to live differently.

Our sins are forgiven. Let that change you.

Be God — every day.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Psalm 66:18

To “cherish” something is to value it, protect it, love it, or hold it dear to you. It is something important that you focus on and organize around.

We are all sinful people, and we all will continue to struggle with this sinful nature. How we respond to sin, though, remains with our control. We can take joy in our sin — cherish it, even — and continue to turn away from God. If so, this Psalm suggests that God will respond to you differently because of it.

Alternatively, we can recognize our sin as wrong, ask for forgiveness, and cherish the love shown to us by our Lord and Savior.

We can’t choose to stop sinning (fully), but we can choose to not love and protect that sin. We can choose to cherish God and what he blesses us with, not the sin that pulls us away from him.

Be God’s — every day.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
Romans 6:17

Humans are naturally sinful. Left to our own devices, we will commit wrongs against others, our world, ourselves, and our God. We are powerless over this nature.

Jesus Christ changes that. Jesus provides power over that sin.

While being reborn in Christ doesn’t give US that power, God releases us from the burden of that sin. When we “obey from our heart that pattern of teaching” (meaning what Jesus taught) we are empowered by God to be free from that sin.

This is well-known to most Christians — we are forgiven. But how well-known is it by those non-believers around you? Do they see the fresh start they can receive through Jesus? How ready are you to share that news?

Be God’s — every day.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Let’s start with the back half of this verse… What an image! We are being transformed into the likeness of God more and more daily. I find it encouraging that God continues to groom us all into what he wants us to be as Christians.

The trouble, though, is hinted in the opening phrase… Our sinful nature veils the glory of God that can shine through each of us. For the transformation to be seen by the world and have its full effect, we must have “unveiled faces.” Our acceptance of our sinful nature and know the veil is there is the first step. Working every day to remove it– for God’s glory, not our own– becomes the primary act of discipleship.

How can you shine the light of God’s glory today? How can you remove the veil?

Be God’s — every day.

And God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:1-3

We tend to think of the Ten Commandments as the big nasties, right. Do these, and you are sunk.

Maybe that is true… But it is odd how we can often forget this and cast stones at other sins as being so terrible. I suppose it’s easier than facing the reality that I, myself, am guilty of a big nasty or two at times.

The first commandment, to have no other gods, really covers the rest. When we become focused on “stuff” — when an object becomes a god to us — will covet and perhaps even steal. By keeping God first, we keep our actions in check.

Be God’s (and only God’s) — every day.

P.S. Repeating my warning yesterday… Devo coverage may be spotty next week due to global travel. I will do my best, but you may be on your own for a week. You can do it!

“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12

I remember a time when I was in 5th grade, my Sunday School teacher told us that when we sin we should ask for forgiveness. I asked, “So then when we keep sinning, we just have to keep asking for forgiveness over and over again? That seems pretty easy.” “Yes, it is easy. Jesus lifts that burden.”

We will all sin. Every one of us. What God wants from us as a result is repentance — which is more than just saying “Oops, my bad” and moving on. Repentance involves real life change.

Many Christians, like my memory of the Sunday School teacher, present a more transactional view of forgiveness. It is seen as a destination — we ARE forgiven. Been there done that. You convert, you are good, now when you sin say you are sorry.

Yep, it’s true. It’s tough to look in the mirror and see that, but that is the brand of Christianity we see a lot. We put a lot of emphasis on destinations and process, forgetting that becoming and being a Christian is about spiritual transformation and a commitment to ongoing discipleship.

We all sin. What God wants from us is to see our faults and try to change. To act differently. To feel bad and to mourn for our sins. Just asking for forgiveness is not the point. God wants our hearts to change.

Be God’s — every day.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:15-16

Christians can get a reputation for being “holier than thou.” There is research evidence that non-Christians, particularly younger ones, are turned off by Christians because of this image they project. We are often known more for what we are against than what God wants us to do and become.

We forget, though, that we are saved because we are sinners. There is no room for holier than thou mindsets. Our sins are no less damning than the sins of others in the world. We are saved in spite of our shortcomings, and all others in the world can be saved just the same.

We are all sinners, none less so than another. We are all saved through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Be God’s — every day.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..
Titus 2:11-13

So… If we take the previous two posts as true — our sin comes from within, but we have been justified and saved to be innocent — then there are really no consequences for sin, right? Just count on forgiveness through God’s grace, and we can sin and sin and still be clean. Right?

Not exactly. In fact, not at all.

While our humanity will cause us to sin, we are taught as Christians to lead the lives described above: controlled and upright. When our human nature intercedes, we can be confident that our repentance will be recognized through the grace of God. But we should not count on that grace and abuse it for our own sinful desires.

Be God’s — every day.

For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
Mark 7:21-22

Where does sin come from?

From within. From our hearts.

It’s not a genetic flaw that we can blame on our parents, or something that we can blame on global warming. Each of us individually is the source of our own sin.

It’s also not something that our bodies can fight, where there is an antibiotic to accelerate our immune response to an infection. Rather, we must be saved from it through repentance and a realization that we are completely powerless over it.

Our sin comes from within each of us. But each of us can be saved by the awesome grace of God, through his son Jesus Christ!

Be God’s — every day.