Sometimes our kiddos do things they know they’re not supposed to do. Actually, oftentimes our kiddos do things they know they’re not supposed to do.
For example, last year our middle little thought it was fun to unbuckle himself from his car seat and move around the car freely while I was driving. This went on for months. I would be driving down the highway, and the next thing I’d know, he’d be bouncing on the back seat of our van. I’d pull over and try to correct the behavior. However, nothing, and I mean nothing worked! I even went as far as buzzing myself into the police station and asking an officer to personally talk to him. That worked for a couple of weeks, but it was only a matter of time before he continued to do the dangerous behavior again. The “what ifs” weren’t real enough for him, but out of love and for his safety, I wanted him to stop.
I’m not sure if it was age, maturity, seeing an actual car accident, or the 800th time I lost it driving down the highway, but somewhere in there, something clicked (literally). He stopped unbuckling himself while I was driving.
For me the idea of not wearing a seatbelt feels dangerous. As an adult, I know and understand the risks. Though verbally, he knew better, it wasn’t until he experienced something that really shaped his understanding of the dangers.
Sin is the same way for us.
I know this is a touchy topic. So let me start by saying that I believe we are all sinners. Despite the way we present ourselves via social media, in public, or even in private, we each still battle with sin. It may not be an outward, noticeable thing, but it’s still there.
In Mark 1:14, we read “After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: ‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!” [He said].
In order to truly follow Jesus, we need to take His words seriously. We must work towards turning away from sin and practice repenting when we do sin. Will we still sin? Absolutely. As believers though, we cannot knowingly embrace sin and Jesus together.
In Ephesians Paul encourages us to “...walk worthy of the calling you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us” (4:1-3). He’s saying that our behavior must be worthy of the calling we have in Christ’s death. In other words, Christ didn’t die so we could choose sin. He died so we could choose Him over sin and be washed in His blood when we do slip up.
Paul also strongly encouraged believers in Romans 6:12-14, “... [to] not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And [to] not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.” In other words, because we have Jesus, who died for our sin on the cross, death no longer rules over us. Therefore, we cannot let His death enable us to continue embracing things that go against God’s Word. Rather, we must turn from them and our fleshly desires and embrace Him instead.
Just like our middle little who took every opportunity to hop towards danger, that’s what we do when we turn towards sin and away from God. Yet, out of love, God sent Jesus. Christ is our seatbelt. He’s our safety. When we flirt with the dangers of sin, we risk way more than we can ever understand. We must experience Christ enough in our daily lives to understand the danger that choosing sin actually brings us.
Friend, from one sinner to another, let me make this very clear, we all struggle with fleshly desires. Jesus is the only perfect person. Therefore, let’s make every attempt this week to turn from our vices, whatever they may be, and instead turn to the One who gave it all. Additionally, if you are in a cycle of sin, take a deep breath, get on your knees, and repent, just as Jesus instructed. Asking God to forgive us and help us is just one of the many ways we can approach Him with humility. The temptations will continue to come, but we can listen to the Holy Spirit's convictions and read God’s Word to help guide us. If you need specific prayer, please reach out. Have a great week!
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