Sin Killing {Part two}
Scripture
So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
~Romans 8:12-13, NLT
Quote
I have known people who never confessed one sin. They pretend to be perfect but I have never known anyone that I believed was perfect or free from all sin.
~Ya’akov
My Thoughts
My daddy could see my faults but he could not see his own. After I began preaching, he and I got into a rather heated conversation and he confessed that he was a sinner. He said something like, “I am not perfect son, I know I fail.” I said, “That is not good enough Daddy, name one sin specifically. You admit to failure but you never confess any sin in particular.” He looked at me in disgust and said nothing for a moment and then he blurted out, “OK I talk too much, or you satisfied?” It was a start. I have known countless people, some actively involvded in church that never once confessed any sin in particular. How do we do this? How can you go day after day without confessing one sin? I can’t get through a single day and the LORD knows my heart, I do not want to sin.
I do want to be dead to sin and sin to be dead to me. Augustine believed that PRIDE is the mother of all sins and he may be right. My question is this: do we ever reach a plateau in the Christian life where pride is not a problem? I hate pride, it is a snake in the grass and for me it is a perpetual problem. How could I ever in good conscience say that I am sin free. Jesus said in John 8:46, “Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin?” Can you say that: I cannot. What I am saying is that if I could kill the sin in my life, I would kill it. I have the desire to be rid of it but not the ability.
Now I do believe that God is at work in me and I am convinced, it is a work of grace. I believe that God, who began the good work within me, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. I believe it is God’s amazing grace working in me that gives me the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. I do see some hope, some light at the end of the tunnel and it is His grace. Certain things have happened in my life that I attribute to Him and His grace; there is no other explanation. Thirty or forty years ago I was a sports fanatic and I have lost interest sports. I used to get depressed after the Super Bowl because there was no more football. Folks this indifference to sports is not a form of discipline; it is not something that I have done. I am not going to write a book on TEN STEPS TO GET FOOTBALL OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM. You may think that I am crazy but I believe it is God’s grace working me giving me the desire to please Him. I don’t think you are going to hell for watching football but for me there are better things to do.
Last question: Why doesn’t God just eradicate all the sin in my life and make me perfect? For the same reason He did not give Adam and Eve knowledge—they were not ready for it. Right now, He wants me to be humble and totally dependent on Him. This life is a test that prepares us for the next and obviously, I have not completed the test. If your recognize sin to be the hideous scourge that it is, it will keep you humble. How can any man be proud of sin? It is certain that we cannot reach others when we walk in pride.
Extra
Another good LORD’s day and I am thankful. I told June, “Don’t let me forget to meet with the girls in the sound room,” and then I forgot all about it until we came down from SS at 10:14, one minuite before startingt time. At that point I began doing a lot of praying. God had mercy and I thank Him. Once I stood behind the communion table the HOLY SPIRIT took over which was an answer to prayer.
I forgot to announce the 49er luncheon this Friday at 11:30. It will be KFC and pot luck. It is not like me to forget an eating meeting but I have a lot on my mind and not much mind. I do have a couple of unspoken prayer request if you don’t mind lifting me up.
Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog. Had a typo in last Friday’s blog. It should have read “got more feedback on the Alcohol blog than any in recent history.” I was shocked; so shocked that I went back and read that blog again.
We are thankful for the rain!!!!!