Hey Westside Family and Friends,

It may come as a surprise to you, but I am a sinner.  Yes, it’s true . . . I can be a real jerk sometimes.  I hate that about myself.  I wish that I would never get angry or think ungodly thoughts or act unkindly toward others again.  I wish that I never had a bad day like when I react to situations like a selfish child.  I wish that I walked in perfect discipline, absolute self-less-ness, and always did it with an authentic smile on my face while being a blessing to everyone I come in to contact with.

How about you?

Do you ever get upset with yourself?  Do you agonize over repeated sin?  Like Paul, the apostle, do you ever find yourself doing the exact opposite of what you committed to do?  What kind of names do you call yourself?  Do other people think you’re doing fine but, inside you feel like a big disappointment to God and to yourself?

Observer 1:  I don’t think you should be talking about this kind of stuff.

Observer 2:  Why not?

Observer 1:  Because you’ll make them feel bad.  People just want to feel good about themselves, not always dwell on the negative.

Observer 2:  This isn’t about feeling good . . . or bad.  It’s about helping folks become free!  It’s about not covering up our weaknesses but, being honest before God, being real before Him, asking for His help and letting Him walk this journey right beside us.  But, I haven’t gotten there yet, so be quiet for a minute.

Observer 1:  OK

Yes, it’s true . . . we are all sinners.  We know it.  (We might be reluctant to admit it, but we are human and humans sin.)  Our family and close friends certainly know it.  The Bible states it:  “There is none righteous, no not one.”  It goes on to say: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?  But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.”  Jer. 17:9-10

Do you hate your sin?  Does it really tick you off?  Seriously . . . do you?  Really . . . do . . . you . . . ab-so-lute-ly . . . HATE  . . . your . . . sin?  Yes?  Well I have good news for you.  You’re in good company.  God hates your sin too.  How much?  Well, He hates sin so much that He did not even spare Christ at the cross but poured out His awesome wrath on His own Beloved Son!

Here’s the thing: If we don’t hate our sin, if it doesn’t bother us or cause us to despair that we’ve dishonored Almighty God, we are in big danger, danger of not doing something about it.  Danger of living with it and letting sin grow ever larger in us.  HATE SIN!  Be in agreement with Holy God that sin is from the pit of hell and it is destructive and it separates us from communion with God and fellowship with others.

“Hating sin is a good thing.

Living with it leads to death.”

Observer 2:  Wow, I don’t know if people have ever realized that before.  When we hate the sin in our life, we are in good company because God hates sin too.  

Observer 1:  Yep, we get into trouble when we flirt with sin or try to ignore it.  No . . . we fight it.  We put it to death.  No negotiations, no truce, no surrender.  

Observer 2:  But, I thought that Jesus died for our sin and that when we say yes to His Lordship, He forgives our sin and treats us like we never sinned. (justification)  

Observer 1:  Yes, He has forgiven us.  We ARE clean before Him.  But we are still bound up in this earthly body that has fleshly desires (sin) built into it.  It will be a battle until the Day we see Jesus.  

Observer 2:  Hmmmmm . . .

Observer 1:  It’s simple . . . we aren’t made right with God by not sinning.  We are made right with God by believing in Jesus’ work at the cross.  He paid for me to be forgiven.  So, we strive in this life to live a life that pleases God . . . not SO He will love us . . . but BECAUSE He loves us!

Observer 2:  That’s cool . . . it takes a lot of pressure off too.

Observer 1:  Why do you say that?

Observer2:  Because, I could never be good enough or perfect enough to please God.  But, when I believe that Jesus took my punishment and that He has already forgiven me and that I don’t have to be perfect to be loved by Him . . . well . . . that takes the pressure off of me to earn favor with God.  I could never do it anyway.

Observer 1:  You’re right about that.  Isn’t God good?

Observer 2:  Absolutely!

Friends, please let me give you a few truths to remember when you find yourself at the bottom . . . you’ve blown it . . . you’ve sinned.

1.  Refuse to take sin lightly

Take it seriously.  It is a big deal.  Big enough for Jesus to die for.  Take the time to honestly admit your sin to God. Tell Him you’re sorry and ask Him to forgive you.  God doesn’t like it when you sin.  Then . . .

2.  Refuse to be condemned 

It may sound like a contradiction, but it’s not.  We are not under condemnation when we receive God’s forgiveness, forgiveness that is already paid for.  Nothing you do can add to what God has already done.  You simply receive it as a gift from Him.  Yes, we take it seriously . . . but we don’t need to walk around under a cloud as we are somehow adding to what Jesus has already accomplished.  Then . . .

3.  Refuse to be accused

The Bible says the accuser of the church is relentless.  Don’t bow to that.  You can say:  “Yes, I did such and such, but it’s ‘under the Blood’ of Jesus.  Get away from me devil . . . in Jesus’ Name!  Then . . .

4.  Refuse to be held down

Jeremiah says “I will rise again.”  The devil gets victory when we cower in a corner not realizing that we have been set free and that God has considered us in right standing (righteous) with Him.  Get up.  Get back out there serving Jesus.  Get going . . . now!

Hope this helps . . .

Love you all,

Steve 🙂

As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. I will be patient as the LORD punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The LORD will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.  Micah 7:7-9