Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
--Psalm 139:23-24
As believers in Christ, you and I need to deal diligently with our character… which involves having a proper attitude about sin.
So what should that attitude be? For one, as believers we should be sensitive toward the sin in our lives. It’s like getting something in your eye and not resting until you get it out! You should be so sensitive to the sin in your life that you can’t rest until you get it out.
Now, believe me, I’ve heard all kinds of excuses over the years from people as to why they let sin remain in their lives. And some people do take some steps to remove the sin from their lives.
But I want to ask you today, are you doing everything you can to remove sin from your life? Are you using every resource God makes available to you in order to kill sin and grow in Christ-likeness?
Maybe it means disconnecting the internet at home. Maybe it means getting rid of your cable television. Maybe it even means admitting your sin to a close circle of fellow believers you trust so they can help hold you accountable.
I don’t know what it specifically means for you, but I do know this: You and I are crazy if we don’t take advantage of any chance to eliminate anything that pulls us away from Christ!
Today, to help you become more sensitive to the sin in your life, I encourage you to take some time to think and pray through today’s verses.
May God bless you as you strive to become more like Him today!
As a believer in Christ, you should be sensitive toward the sin in your life.
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.”
Luke 21:12–13
When Mary came to the throne of England in 1553, her greatest desire was to see the nation returned to her Catholic faith. She launched a wave of persecution against those who would not profess allegiance to Rome. Hundreds were killed, leaving her with the name “Bloody Mary.” Two of the victims martyred by Queen Mary were Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer. Both had preached fearlessly under the reign of Henry, but Mary regarded them as heretics.
After a brief show trial, they were condemned to be burned at the stake. As the watching crowd stood by, the two men went to their fate. The executioners used green wood which would burn slowly to prolong the suffering of the condemned men. As he waited for death Latimer called out, “Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”
None of us enjoy enduring hardship or suffering, but God regards these tests as both necessary and valuable: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7). In addition to strengthening our character, trials present us with an opportunity to show to all around us that faith is real. Our faith is not just meant for the church and home, but for the hospital, the unemployment line, and the cemetery. Whatever hardships we may face, even the threat of persecution and death, let us be found faithful.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Every difficult circumstance of life is an opportunity to demonstrate that our faith is real.
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