Sin

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” That’s what C. S. Lewis wrote in his compelling book, Mere Christianity. Forgiveness is a great concept until we must put it into practice. Do you have someone you need to forgive?

Thanks for joining us as we focus on thirty days of prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. And…sometimes, we talk to God when our backs are down on the mat. Here’s what Jesus said to one man who found himself in that position.

There is a direct correlation between where we live and how we live. The things that occupy our minds and drive our hearts will determine the state of our being. If we live in the land of fear, we will live with insecurity. If we live in the land of doubt, we will experience continual discouragement. Living in the land of brokenness will lead to a second-shelf Christian life and provide excuses for our sin. But when we hang out under the shelter of the Most High…our situation changes.

Let’s take a few days to consider Psalm 51, David’s prayer for forgiveness after his sin with Bathsheba. In this prayer, we find seven important steps to true repentance. Today we’ll cover the first three.

Sin sits heavy on the soul. Our failures never wander far from our minds. With the memory…comes the guilt. Sin keeps us chained to shame and regret. And as long as we keep silent, we stay…tethered. That’s what David experienced.

The great promises of God are found throughout Scripture from the Old Testament to the New. And…so many of the promises are found in the beautiful poetry of the psalms. Today’s psalm promises that we are friends with God.

The true believer has eternal security. No one can snatch us out of God’s hand (John 10:27-30). Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39). Our imperishable inheritance is kept in heaven for us “who through faith are shielded by God’s power” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV). But the assurance of our salvation does not allow us to live a sloppy spiritual life.

The message of the gospel is a message of grace, hope, and transformation. The power of the gospel stops a person in their tracks, causes them to realize their sin, and turns them to God. The gospel is not about being born into a Christian home, going through catechism, attending church, or being a good moral person. It is about life transformation.

Let me start with a question, “What do you live for?” What is the calling, the initiator, the motivation of your life? Check out this passage from 1 Peter.