[This post is in a weekly devotional series called Everything New. Sign up here if you’re interested.]
Whenever I hear a public figure defend himself with the oft-repeated words “I know I’m not a perfect person,” I wince. It seems the height of pride. I feel like saying, “No, the thought never crossed anybody’s mind that you are perfect, so why state the obvious?” When I hear a husband or wife in an estranged relationship say, “I know I’m not perfect,” I want to say (but don’t), “Okay, now that we’ve established the fact that you are not God, where do we go from here in figuring out what went wrong?”
It was a gorgeous summer evening and somehow I managed to get my five-year-old son to go out with me for a walk around the neighborhood. The air was balmy, the wind was pushing the trees back and forth with a great swooshing noise, and the stars looked like they had been sprinkled there just for us to delight in. I pointed upward. “Just look at all those stars, Christopher.”
“I know what the stars are, Dad.” He paused, then pronounced, “They are all of our sins that have gone away.”
Sensing a teachable moment, I asked: “What is sin, Chris?”
He snapped back, “Well, YOU ought to know, Dad.”
I said nothing, preferring to believe that he knew I had a degree in theology, rather than that I was a particularly expert sinner.
Wishful thinking, perhaps.
The truth is, I know I am a good sinner; it comes naturally for me. Nobody drags me kicking and screaming into envy. I don’t need any particular inspiration to be impatient. I didn’t need to take a seminar in covetousness to want things that don’t belong to me. I say things that are careless and unkind, and I think things that are in direct contrast to the mind of God.
All that would drive me to despair, except that this truth about me, and everybody else I know, fits right in the faith that I hold to. The whole scheme of Christian truth includes this sad but true piece: the reality of the ever-active sinfulness of the human race. And if you accept that premise, it’s a lot easier to understand the nature of the world we live in. The good news is that Christian faith doesn’t leave us there. God’s work through his Spirit brings about purification from sin, a retraining of human nature based upon the free forgiveness of God made possible by the voluntary death of Christ. Amazing! Incredible!
At its core, the meaning of sin is a break in our relationship with God. Sin is “anything in the creature which does not express, or which is contrary to, the holy character of the Creator” (Oliver Buswell); “the refusal to find our anchoring… in the holy love of God” (Hendrikus Berkhof); “lack of conformity to the moral law of God” (Louis Berkhof). Or, as my son put it, “YOU ought to know, Dad.” And, of course, we do. We all do when we’re honest (and we must be honest on this score, otherwise we will never rise above our sin). [More on this, next time.]
Excerpt from Putting the Pieces Back Together: How Real Life and Real Faith Connect. Free DVD available now.
[This post is in a weekly devotional series called Everything New. Sign up here if you’re interested.]
I t seems that , speaking for myself, I sin without ever thinking about it. Not a day goes by that I don’t sin by being impatient, or by speaking hastily and saying hurtful things. Thankfully, we have God’s forgiveness and God’s word. Once I pray and ask God to forgive me I don’t let my sins worry me.
I know that I sin every single day; most times without even realizing it. But I pray for Gods’ forgiveness. Then I don’t worry about it; because I know that I’m forgiven. Of course I read the Bible and try to live the right way.
and it really, deebly deals with the method in which we can understand sin
I really enjoyed that, It make’s me more humble to know that I’m still a work in progress but I’m trying
I don’t doubt the power in the blood of Jesus to wash away my sins. “Me, i’m forgiven.
How wonderful is His love for us that while we were sinners Christ died for us. And now He makes intercession for us! We only “know better” when we “Know” the One who reveals our sins and loves us, forgives us and teaches us to say no to ungodliness. Let us all press on to be conformed in His image.
thank you so nuch; God bless you abanduntly.
I would experience great despair if I did not know who I was in Christ. However, I get discouraged by my slow progress in sanctification. Through Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit and the use of God ordained means of Christian growth, I think there is a progression to holy living. But I am stunned at how slow my progress has been over 30 + years of being a Christian. It seesm to me, that there are unsaved people who live “better” than I do. This blows my mind and I really don’t get it. It drives me to Christ. What else can I do, who else can I go to?
I was reborn in October of 2010 after a long severe depression that almost lead to the taking of my own life. I am now a child of God. I still struggle everyday to understand why this happened to me. My minister says that God let me experience the suffering to open my eyes and train me to his use. I now know that I can never control anything in my life. I give it all to God and to Jesus. If I ever had any doubts about my really being a true Christian, I have moved past that thought. God shows me everyday that he is there for me, waiting for me to ask him for help. Whether it is an email from someone that lifts my spirit or a comment about how much I have changed, I know that God is taking care of me and answering my prayers daily. I don’t ask for much, just a sound mind and the peace that comes from knowing Him. I am a sinner and I know it. I ask Him everyday for forgiveness if I have unintentionally sinned against Him. The good news is He hears my prayers and loves me. I am blessed with a wife that worships God with me. One year ago we were headed for divorce. Now we are very much in love and trying to capture what we once had when we were first married. Giving my life to Christ forever changed my direction in life and it changed my feelings of worthlessness and sadness that I had carried with me since my childhood.
I count my blessings everyday and thank Him for His sacrifice for me. I still have periods of depression that do not last for long. I do not expect to be completely healed until He is ready for me to be healed. In the meantime, I pray that He will put people in my path that need someone to talk to. Someone to confide in. Most of, someone to lead them to Christ.
And He washed my sins away! Now, if only I can forgive as quickly the person, standing right here in front of me, who He made also. O, Happy Day!
I enujoy reading this devotional when it comes to my inbox. However I must admit that I would like to see a scripture that confirms what is being said. To quote another author is nice but I prefer a word from the Lord to confirm what the author is writing about. This will tell me that it is a word from God.
Thank you for your understanding.
Oops sorry for the typo. ***Enjoy…..
I think as much as I sin I also try to do what is right and follow my heart in accordance to God’s love. That is why if/when I catch myself in sin I humbly turn to my creator for forgiveness.
Lisa – thanks for the comment. You will see that the next “Everything New” picks up with a Bible study of some of the key passages about fallenness. The word of God is certainly our only foundation!
Sin is walking independantely of God – doing our own thing as Adam did.
Genesis
Holiness is walking completely dependant on God – doing what He asks us to do as the second Adam did
John
Never a truer word has been spoken – WE ought to know!
God made me the way I am.. I can’t change that. I follow His word and know right from wrong. When I make a mistake and need discipline I Thank God He loves me enough to show me how to behave. Thank God He love us to show us How not to act as a Christian..I am learnng to be more aware of God in every minute of every day.. I am not a new Christian but still in Training!! Thanks to Rick for your comment because I see the same in some people and I feel ashamed. But I know and keep reminding myself of the Love God has for us and I am always amazed by the power of this Love.. He even loves me (too)!! I like the protective comfort of Knowing that God is in charge.
I should know too, I am glad He will not give up on me if I keep hanging on in faith…
see Revelation 3:19 thanks..
even as a pastor I some times get mad when things don’t go right as they should. I am also disabled from a gun shot Aug 3rd while working as a private security officer My wife is in a nursing home with stage 6 alshimer when I married her 8 years ago I never though this would happen she was so vivant in life very good gospel singer and pastor my mother passed away from it 31/2 years ago there are days when it is hard to deal with it Prays always work. and reading my Bible always helps
Richard – You have been through incredible distress. Thank you for posting this so that others can pray for you.
I just read Daniel 13:8-30….Because I was reading todays our daily bread, Albert Lee was also talking about a pastor who was burned alive at the steak for his calling.. “We must rember that God is God and He always has the final say” Have faith in his promises. Always be on guard.
We are here for His glory and all of us have a divine calling… Esspecially someone in a nursing home…I worked in a nursing home, in the locked units. I always heard how they just wanted to go home. I saw how the family member hurt when there was no recollection..They always knew each and every word to all the hymns..
Talk to her and play the hymns you will bless each other.. God loves you… You will be a blessing to others too..Sing to The Lord !!!
Wow. I read all of your comments and I love you all. I am thanking God for each of you and for your openess and sincerity. His grace is beyond comprehension.
Richard, I am praying that God will strengthen you and comfort you and fill your heart with trust in Him.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-5
excellent
This week’s devotional is timely, for certain, as the sad news re. Rep. Anthony Weiner bombards us at every turn. The lack of humility and restraint in our culture is sad, and deeply numbing….
I always feel like Paul must have felt when he wrote about always wanting to do the RIGHT thing in obedience to God…BUT…somehow I seem to say or do the WRONG and SINFUL things! Thank you, Jesus that I can confess my sins and begin again! There is NO HOPE without JESUS!
We, as children of the Most High, should know. But we are imperfect because of Adam’s sin and our flesh wars with our spirit always. There is never a respite. And the enemy is always crouching at the door, trying to tempt us away from the Truth. I command my soul to line up with my spirit, in the name of Jesus, and then command my spirit to line up with the Spirit of the Living God……. and to take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. It’s still a battle but God is in control, He has already won the war so He is the one I need to run to for mercy and forgiveness. He is the perfect Father, who will always be there for us when we need Him.
I always fail at the 1st commandment! Do I need to say more? No grace => no salvation