Sin

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Excuse me – Part 5

The father invited everyone to the wedding of his son. The time arrived for everyone to come and enjoy the celebration

But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Matt 22:5

This is exactly what happens to Father – people make light of Him, His ways, His people, and His church.

They don’t view living a Christian life of sanctification as important. Church is not a serious matter; prayer, fasting, tithing, fellowship, and witnessing are all optional to many.

Some of the biggest excuses I hear when it comes to anti-Christian living is “God is love”, “Jesus loves everyone”, and “God will forgive me for my sin.”
All true but not an excuse to sin or live contrary to scripture.

The Roman church thought much the same thing and it prompted Paul to say,

Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Rom 6:1-2

Christianity cannot be taken lightly or easily excused. If you are a Christian, then it is important that you live as Christ would live.

Don’t use Christ as an excuse to do evil but live for Christ and overcome evil.

Abba, I have no excuse for my sin and yet You have excused it by the blood of Jesus. I don’t take that lightly. YES&AMEN

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Thanks Giving It Up

What would you willingly give up for another person?

I know some people that have given a kidney or bone marrow to help someone. But my question leans more towards what lifestyle would you give up to help someone.

Would you give up drinking and never touch another drop if it would rid your mom of Alzheimer’s?

Could you give up bacon or seafood if you knew it would cure a child you know of leukemia?

What about church? Would you never miss another service if it made grandma well again?

What are you willing to give up for your children or spouse to insure they are happy and safe?

The things you say you would give up are the things that Jesus did give up!
He never got drunk, never committed adultery, and never ate bacon or seafood. He did not lie, steal, murder, or back talk His parents.
He was never jealous or envious. He did not cuss or take God’s name in vain. He never missed the opportunity to worship God with others in a synagogue or Temple.

And He did this all for YOU!
Then He did something else!

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21

Jesus took upon Himself the sinful things you weren’t willing to give up so you could be made whole.
So you could be made perfect.
So you could have a more abundant life!
So you could have eternal life with Him in heaven someday!

Paul testifies of the things he was willing to give up after he accepted Jesus as his Savior.

I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Phil 3:8-9

Abba, on this Thanksgiving Day I am reminded of what I am most thankful for – that you gave up the opportunity to sin so that I can live. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Love Overlooks and Excuses.

Love has an amazing affect on people.

Love is able to transform sadness to happiness; it changes loneliness into hope.
The Bible has much to say about love – how it is so patient and kind.

While,

Hatred stirs up strife, Love covers all sins. Prov 10:12

“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Love also overlooks sins.

There is a husband that’s an alcoholic but the wife loves him and makes excuses for him when he doesn’t show up with her at a party.

There’s the child doing drugs but the parents don’t want to believe that because they love her and just want to believe she’s going through a phase.

I can go on and on and this may be happening in your family. Your love is not covering their sins – it’s overlooking those sins.

You will overlook the sins of those you love!

You nor that person you love can ever, ever cover those sins.
But Jesus can because He covers those sins in forgiveness through His own blood.

Your sin isn’t overlooked or excused – it’s forgiven, washed away, removed, gone, and never to be remembered.

Abba, thank You for covering my sin. I would still be in a bad shape had you just overlooked it. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Nothing New!

Christians are unpopular; viewed as haters, hypocritical, intolerant, bigoted, smug, and self-righteous.

Teaching about sin is unpopular and is viewed as judgmental.

What I find ironic is the amount of hatred that is directed toward Christians by the same one’s that call them haters.

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. Matt 10:22

And the hatred is far surpassed by anything a Christian might be guilty of doing. After all, if I preach what the word of God says about fornication and perhaps there is a couple living together outside the bounds of marriage, then I am told that I am passing judgment and out of touch with the way the world is now.

The way the world is now is not new. Sin is sin and has existed since that day in the Garden of Eden when the first couple decided to go against God’s word and will.

God gave commandments concerning adultery because it existed and was a problem.
Paul talked about fornication because it existed and was a problem.

God reveals:

there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. Eccl 1:9-10

Hypocrisy is not new. Gossip is not new. Murder is not new. Cursing is not new. Child molesters are not new. Homosexuality is not new. Alcoholism is not new. Bestiality is not new. Drug abuse is not new. Nothing is new – it has already been done.

But sin will kill those that commit it.

The soul who sins shall die. Ezek 18:4

The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23

But praise God for His gift to us – eternal life through Jesus!

Abba, give me wisdom to always say the right thing to share the Gospel message of salvation in a loving way. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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A Message of Death – A Message of LIFE

“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?” Acts 5:28

Sinful living and false religions all have a major problem with the word of God – it won’t go away and it won’t be silenced.

Those that commit sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these are determined to end any message that would call their lifestyle sinful.

Of course any government official that lives contrary to the scripture will take offense when a pastor takes to the pulpit with the word of God and preaches against such sin.

The Islamic world has made a remedy for them that dare preach Jesus – death. In countries with high populations of Muslims, they are the majority and with the approval of their governing officials, they can imprison, try, and kill “infidels” that preach the Gospel of Jesus.

High populations of other religions can do the same.

What is unique about pure Christianity is it preaches life, not death! Of course in the message there is the condemnation and death of all that sin,

For the wages of sin is death! Rom 6:23

But the same message is tempered with

the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

It is not a message of purely condemnation of a lifestyle or belief – it is THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION!

Abba, Your name is life. Your way is life. Though the world may choose death, I choose to tell them about Life. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Grace is Greater

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel — he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 1 Chron 5:1

Man’s sin is an epidemic but God’s grace is pandemic!

Reuben sinned against his dad, Israel. The firstborn right and blessing was taken away from him.

But he showed some redemptive qualities when he sought to spare the life of Joseph and was willing to sacrifice his own children to assure the safety of his younger brother, Benjamin.

God’s grace wipes out any sin you can commit.

And even though he has been dead for thousands of years, Reuben’s family is given redemption.

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
…of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; Rev 7:4, 5

God’s grace out does anything you can do!

Abba, Your grace and mercy through Jesus are more than sufficient for me. YES&AMEN

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The Birth

Over the weekend my oldest daughter went into labor and gave birth to my fifth grandchild.

When Linda and I arrived in Dallas on Friday, she was already having some contractions. She might take a few steps and then stop and get this real look of pain on her face.

The contractions subsided over night but picked up in intensity on Saturday. A man cannot imagine the pains of labor. Perhaps stomach cramps are as close as men can get to that sensation but it probably is a poor comparison.

Men will never know the pain of labor or giving birth.

Or can they?

The Bible says,

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:15

Each of us conceives desire and gives birth to sin. Each of us will know the pain of death.

But those that look to Jesus for salvation understand the meaning of born-again.

As Jesus said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

As someone once said, “You can be born once and die twice or you can be born twice and die once!”

Experience new birth!

Abba, thanks You for giving me a second chance! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Cutting it Away

When God makes a covenant you don’t have any choice in the terms.

God has chosen Jesus as the way back to Him. It is through the blood of Jesus that you have the forgiveness of sin. You have no choice. It is His chosen way!

I believe there are things God would have you cut out of your life as a result of the covenant. These things you can live without. They are not necessary for your relationship with the Savior; and could be detrimental.

The main thing that needs to be cut from your life is sin!

Abraham was presented with the terms of a covenant with God.

Gen 17:10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;

If given the choice, I’m sure Abraham would not have chosen that particular procedure. He may have chosen to give up red meat or wine.
But what God demanded be cut away was useless to the life of Abraham – something not really needed and something he could live without, yet painful to remove.

I’m sure there are things in your life that would be painful for you to get rid of; but you can live without.

Abba, help me cut out of my life those things I don’t need to make room for more of You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Mistake – #4

Today’s devo comes to you from Daniel Springs church camp in Gary, Texas.

When something goes wrong and you get the blame, don’t you feel like running away or crawling into a hole and pulling the dirt over the top of you?

There are many times I’d like to run away and hide.

Gen 16:6 And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Perhaps Sarai thought this would get rid of her mistake if she caused Hagar to run away. So she was very mean to her.

Hagar ran away, taking Ishmael with her. Now Sarai doesn’t have to look at them. The boy is not around for Abram to be a father to, and the problem is solved.

But God found Hagar and sent her back!

You cannot run away and hide from your problems or from God. You cannot run away from sin.

In Eden, Adam ate from the forbidden tree. He then tried to hide from God. It didn’t work.
Confession is the only remedy for sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Abba, I have made many mistakes in my life. You sent Your Son to pay for my mistakes. I confess them and You have cleansed and forgiven me, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN