This evening, I had to take my ailing cat to the Vet, all prepared to have her put down, but, surprisingly, even though she is extremely ill, and 18, they gave her an IV, gave me some instructions, and said call by Friday to let us know how she is doing. Anyway, as I was preparing myself for the worst, I had more time to think:)))
We are ALL going to err until our time flees! THE GOOD LORD knows this, and what HE expects from us,
is that we become more CONSCIOUS of our errs, and apply the knowledge HE gives us, to correcting them along the way! SO, I think that greatest sin we have is complacency, and resignation of our sins; in that, we OFTEN EXCUSE them by believing that EVERYONE does this, or that, trying to justify our own behaviours through resigning ourselves to the fact that EVERYONE does this, or that! When we do this, we are neglecting to improve, mature, and grow IN THE LORD, as we are allowing what seems normal to the world to be the norm. See what I am getting at here???
Let's say one has a sharp, nasty tongue, is always cocky, and rude to just about everyone, but, this is the way this person was raised, and most of the people around them are the same! This person doesn't feel that they are sinning, as they wag their tongue, hurting, even damaging people, and some of such people, actually get a kick out of the reactions they get! They justify their err by comparing themselves to the world around them, and then, resign themselves to this behaviour because it is normal for them, based on the likeness of others around them! Their most pressing sin is that they aren't willing to CHANGE their behaviour for *GOD*, because they are convinced that their worldly behaviour is acceptable!!!
KNOWING THE WORD illustrates in detail, sin! There are so many sins we go through life committing, totally unaware that they are sin, but, THE BIBLE depicts them, demonstrates them, clarifies them, and shows us THE WAY past them, to improvement, even overcoming them!!!
People DON'T want to know the fullness of the things that are considered sin to THE LORD, because it means we have work to do, and because it means changing! Then, people don't want more guilt than they already have, so, they ignore many TRUTHS! It ISN'T about guilt, it is about LOVE, and improvement, FOR HIS GLORY, and for our benefit, as well as the benefit of those in our paths. Guilt is a guile employed by the cunning enemy; used as a weight, a chain, a shackle, to keep us from understanding that we CAN ARISE to our *GOD*-likeness! Guilt is almost a stupidity on the part of those who claim THE LORD as their SAVIOUR, although, one SHOULD repent of ANY sin that happens along the way, WITH the INTENT of correcting them! Still, guilt IS NOT the factor here, it is the enemy! LOVE is the motive, the motivator, and the manifestation!!!
ROMANS 7: 15-25...
15/ What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.
16/ Now if I do what I do not want, I concur that the law is good.
17/ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18/ For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
19/ For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.
20/ Now if (I) do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21/ So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
22/ For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
23/ but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24/ Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
25/ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with my mind, serve the law of God but, with my flesh, the law of sin.
Apostle Paul has thought err through, and well! Let's take a deeper look into this:
Compared with the holy rule of conduct in the law of God, the apostle found himself so very far short of perfection, that he seemed to be carnal; like a man who is sold against his will to a hated master, from whom he cannot set himself at liberty. A real Christian unwillingly serves this hated master, yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend above, rescues him.
The remaining evil of his heart is a real and humbling hindrance to his serving God as angels do and the spirits of just made perfect. This strong language was the result of St. Paul's great advance in holiness, and the depth of his self-abasement and hatred of sin. If we do not understand this language, it is because we are so far beneath him in holiness, knowledge of the spirituality of God's law, and the evil of our own hearts, and hatred of moral evil. And many believers have adopted the apostle's language, showing that it is suitable to their deep feelings of abhorrence of sin, and self-abasement.
The apostle enlarges on the conflict he daily maintained with the remainder of his original depravity. He was frequently led into tempers, words, or actions, which he did not approve or allow in his renewed judgement and affections. By distinguishing his real self, his spiritual part, from the self, or flesh, in which sin dwelt, and by observing that the evil actions were done, not by him, but by sin dwelling in him, the apostle did not mean that men are not accountable for their sins, but he teaches the evil of their sins, by showing that they are all done against reason and conscience. Sin dwelling in a man, does not prove its ruling, or having dominion over him. If a man dwells in a city, or in a country, still he may not rule there.
You see, he was NOT complacent, nor resigned to err! He worked through his salvation with GREAT intent, and with diligent application OF the understanding he obtained from THE LORD *GOD*, and HOLY SPIRIT; thus, he was acting according TO HIS WILL, and GLORIFYING *GOD* in the process! EXCELLENT example, yes?!!
Sin is NOT to have dominion OVER us, *GOD* HAS ALL DOMINION, and HAS PROVIDED us with the knowledge, and tools to retrain the being TOWARDS the TRUTH of DOMINION! HE HAS GIVEN US THE WAY TO TRIUMPH OVER sin, yes HE HAS! PRAISE HIS GENIUS, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS PRESENCE, and HONOUR HIM in LOVE, and the BEST of you abilities, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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