6 Oct, 2010
A Laundry List of Sin
The picture above was taken last night in my living room. I decided it was time to stop ignoring the growing piles of dirty clothes in our closets and face the overwhelming task of doing laundry. It's definitely not one of my favorite things to do (not even close) and, as much as I try to deny that the piles even exist, there comes a time when I just have to face it (you know, when someone in the family runs out of clean socks or underwear)! There are stains that need to be treated, colors that need to be sorted, and, when it's all done, everything needs to be folded and put away - it seems neverending, and will take me at least a couple days to get it all done! I suppose the laundry would seem more approachable if I actually dealt with it on a daily basis, treated the stains right when they happened, and tackled one load per day. Maybe . . . one day . . . I'll get there . . .
1 John 1:8-9
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confes our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about dealing with sin?
Does your relationship with God ever feel distant? Sometimes, when you pray, do you feel like God is a little "unapproachable?" Although these feelings may be real, true, and valid, it's not because God has walked away from you, or forgotten about you, it's more likely that you have walked away from God. The problem isn't God, it's sin. The Bible tells us that sin is something we all struggle with and all of us, at some point, will be forced to face it and deal with it. No matter how much we try to ignore sin or deny that we have it in our lives, it exists and, like the laundry, it will pile up until we choose to wave the white flag and surrender. The good news is that we serve a God who is just waiting to forgive and purify His children, as long as we choose to come to Him and repent. The problem comes when we deny our sin, when we fail to admit that we even struggle with it, or when we refuse to deal with it, because it is then that we deny God, His grace, and our need for a Savior.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
Are there things in your life that you have kept hidden away in the closet of your heart? Sin that has piled up for a while and is creating a stink in your life? Commit today to face it . . . to sort through it, bring it to God, and let Him deal with it. While it may take days to deal with the stinky laundry, when you confess your sins to God and choose to repent from them, His forgiveness is immediate.
Take some time right now to stop reading and pray. Ask God to search your heart and to bring to mind anything that may be hindering your relationship with Him (read Ps. 139:23). Confess any sin that God brings to mind and trust Him for forgiveness. Take time, daily, to confess your sin to Christ, instead of allowing it to pile up and affect your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Don't be afraid to share your struggles with your friends, especially when you can share about God's forgiveness and grace! If there is ever a way to share the Gospel, it's through those times when God shows up and works a miracle through our mess-ups! Pray for your friends who may be in a state of denial when it comes to their sin. Pray that God would convict their hearts of any wrong-doings so that your friends would see their need for a Savior, and ultimately surrender to Him.
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