"Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion:
eyes that are arrogant,
a tongue that lies,
hands that murder the innocent,
a heart that hatches evil plots,
feet that race down a wicked track,
a mouth that lies under oath,
a troublemaker in the family."
Proverbs 6:16-19 from the Message Bible
I think it's so interesting how it's kind of human nature to "rate" sins - like some just seem more serious and should likely have a more severe consequence or punishment than others.
Other types of "sin" are really quite "acceptable" in our culture today, they just seem rather "mild," don't they? I mean, how bad can just one "little white lie" be? Or is it really so bad to show some "pride" when we've worked really hard to accomplish something?
But amazingly, God places those particular sins right along next to murder! Come on now, can that be fair?!
As I read these verses today, I thought of the book that Troy & I have been reading through, it's called "Respectable Sins," by Jerry Bridges. Whew, talk about conviction & digging deep! I have to kind of take it in sections, maybe because God still has so much to do in my heart & life, but it's such a true picture of where many of us are in our Christian networks & circles. As Mr. Bridges says in the book's preface, "we have become so preoccupied with some of the major sins of society around us that we have lost sight of the need to deal with our own more 'refined' or subtle sins." Ouch. He goes on to address sin issues such as anxiety/frustration, discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, anger, impatience/irritability, sins of the tongue, judgmentalism, envy, worldliness, etc..., ugh, I knew I'd better crack this book open when I felt the pangs of conviction just in reading through the table of contents!
But, let me end with a note of HOPE for all of us out there who struggle! When we come to a place where we can see a truer picture of who we really are, sin & all, we can then come to a place where we can see a truer picture of WHO HE IS...our Redeemer, our Savior! The Bible says that when we are forgiven through Jesus Christ, and we confess what we've done wrong and turn from it, God wipes out our sin. Boom, it's gone. Like a dry erase board, never to be remembered. Wow, I am so needy for God to continue to work in this fleshly heart of mine, if you're feeling that same way today, know that I'm with you friend - living a life of complete dependency upon our God - HE is our HOPE!
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Acts 3:19
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