"SIN"

Like a minor cut or an abrasion that becomes infected when left untreated, sin grows and poisons the whole body. It's like a little pet we keep in a cage and from time to time, we get it out, we feed it, water it, pet it, love it and it grows a little every day.

It might just be gossip, you know how people love to pull you into those conversations at work. It could be a thing you don't even notice at first, something you are allowing that seems so innocent, maybe it is what I recently heard of as emotional dating. You know...that person at work that you love to be around, he or she looks good, smells good, notices you when you come in, the one who isn't your wife or husband....oops! Whoever said, a little dirt won't hurt!!!

We think to ourself "we got this." We got it under control. We think we have it conquered, but it continues to grow and eventually it devours us, it sucks the life out of us, we took that small step away from God, we didn't think anyone knew, but HE did, He knew, He saw, He wept.

Incomplete obedience. I will probably never obey completely, but I do know the difference. I want my kids to obey me, respect me and honor me and I try to remember that with God, my Father. He loves me sooo much, I can't believe it or understand it. It is still all about grace and mercy...nothing I can do can earn it or deserve it, yet freely He has given, freely I have received.

So...I hate sin, I hate it when I allow sin in my life. Sometimes I can see something in my life I need to deal with and then other times, it is too late, I already let the cat out of the bag and am suffering the consequences. It may not be a big thing, but it's the little foxes that spoil the vine.

It's enough that I know it is there, it tears me to pieces. Sometimes a movie will come on and I will hate it and not be able to watch it, then other times evil comes kind of seductively, and I give in. I have noticed the times I am really in the Word and in prayer are the times when I am stronger about turning away, but if I neglect those things and get busy with the affairs of life, I can get caught up so easily.

Paul the apostle said, the thing I ought to do, I don't and the thing I do, I hate. I wish I could talk to him sometime. I would say "you were one brother who was real!!, you put it out there, you were transparent!"

Sin is the reason for the rapid decline in our morals in America. Our leaders have fallen prey to it, sports heros, movie stars, music. We must beware of compromising with wickedness. Please don't think this post is legalistic or condemning, I don't mean it that way at all. I am constantly aware of how it is only His mercy and grace can save and set us free and how there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We are the righteousness of God in Christ, He REDEEMED us, He paid the cost. That is why I want to strive to live it. His love motivates me to seek Him and to be aware of sin crouching at my door...I am gonna open up the door and yell GIT when sin comes knocking, cause I know how it affects me, I know how it affects my family.

Do I focus on it all the time, no mostly I focus on Him, on how He loved me so much, How He is so faithful, He gave me a standard I could live by, He gave me a plumbline. He knew if I did certain things or allowed certain things they would hurt me, just as I want my children to obey to keep them out of harm's way..I am sure He gets joy when we obey, He was trying to protect me when He gave me the rule book, He showed me how to win at the game of life, so I am smack dab in the middle of it and I am going to score as many points in this game as I can. Hallelujah!!!!