Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…”
Growing up I thought of the word sin as one of those taboo words you aren’t supposed to say out loud in front of grown ups. It was a bad word or an embarrassing word kind of like S-E-X, as my parents would spell it out in their grown up conversations.
S-I-N is a word that none of us is without. When we make a conscious choice to separate ourselves from God we become self-righteous…living by our own rules and not His, we become sinners.
We twist and turn God’s word to fit our own selfish needs. “What I am doing isn’t THAT bad.”
I share A LOT here but I do not share everything and I won’t. But in the spirit of keeping it REAL…why else do this if not? I have sinned big time in the past. There are some really big ones actually and I am not proud of myself. At that time I did not know who I was in Christ. I was lost and seeking love in all the wrong places. I actually pretty much hated myself for several years…not so long ago. But today as I am more aware of who I am and what God has done for me through Jesus Christ, and as I am growing to love and respect myself again, I strive harder and harder to think like Christ. That is why God gave us the Ten Commandments. Temptation is EVERYWHERE. We are not sinning if we are tempted. We sin when we follow through.
I made a conscious choice to not have sex out of wedlock after my second divorce and I have already failed at that. I lived in sin with significant others for periods of time in my 20’s and early 30’s. By the time I met my second husband right before I turned 40 we both wanted to get married instead of live in sin. We did one thing right at least. But we failed at marriage and divorced. (Divorce…that’s a whole other topic! Matthew 5:32) And since then I have failed at premarital sex again. I KNOW it is wrong but I still did it.
EVERYONE DOES IT! I DID IT FOR YEARS!!! MY FRIENDS DO IT. MY FRIENDS CHILDREN DO IT. THAT DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DOING IT!!!
As I walk farther down this path in my spiritual journey my convictions are becoming stronger and I pray that I will abstain next time. I am thankful I have a big-hearted God who loves me no matter what. I try and I fail but I get back up and I try again, each time learning a new lesson and growing closer to Him because of it.
I also grapple with drinking alcohol. I enjoy the taste of beer. However, I do not drink in excess. The fact that Jesus turned water into wine tells me he drank on occasion. I know some Christians who drink excessively and some who do not touch it. The Bible says to avoid drunkenness but doesn’t say the words do not drink. (Ephesians 5:18). Moderation is the key. For me, one beer is acceptable but after two or three and I am crossing over that line.
Alcohol itself is not a sin…however drunkenness and addiction is a sin.
Sex isn’t a sin…however sex outside of marriage is a sin.
Those are biggies. There are so many more but maybe this will get us thinking a bit. What areas in your life are you placing your own needs in front of God?
We are all sinners. We all face temptation. But the closer you grow in your relationship with Him the easier it becomes to avoid it. I will never be perfect. You will never be perfect. But by His grace, we are forgiven.
Thank you God for Your mercy and grace and for giving us the power to choose good over sin. I pray against the temptations that separate me from You. Thank You for Your unfailing love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings,
Stacey ~ iamalive
“Wherever you are, whatever you did
It’s a page in your book, but it isn’t the end
Your Father will meet you with arms open wide
This is where your heart belongs
Come running like a prodigal”
http://youtu.be/33JiUhdOPj0