We have all been there. Standing in the mirror, looking at ourselves, and asking ourselves the same question: “Why did I do that?”
Some of us may take the time to investigate our motives. But even after getting at the heart of the problem, we still find ourselves back at the mirror. We never know our motives, and that just makes the mirror a frustrating place to be. Still, we all can agree that every time we come back to the mirror we can see the damage of our decisions in our eyes. Jaded. Suspicious. Hurt. Mistrusting. Dying. And that is what sin is. Sin is the inescapable, unavoidable death we see in the mirror. Sin is the reality that I can keep coming back to the mirror all I want, but I can never change what it shows me.
We have an ugly habit of thinking the best of ourselves; and quite frankly, that habit is the basis for the worst of our problems. In the beginning, humankind was without sin. But the desire to think the best of ourselves ushered sin into the world. When Satan tempted Eve in the garden to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he tempted her by convincing her that God was holding back the best. Satan said, “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). The ugliness that followed was death. And not just death for Eve and her husband Adam but all those who came after them.
We all have sinned, still sin, and will continue to sin. And sin enslaves. We know it enslave because it is sin that keeps driving us back to the mirror to ask ourselves the same question, “Why did I do that?” In John 8:34, Jesus says it like this, “Truly, truly, I say to you everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” As humans we are finite in both will and ability. Essentially, we have absolutely no ability to free ourselves from the slavery sin causes; nor do we have the full capacity to desire to be free from sin. Paul says, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18).
The very real reality is that even though we are incapable of stopping ourselves from sin, there is a part of us that wants to sin.
But there is good news. Jesus has come!
Yes when I push away get busy and things are more important than people
My idol is self-reliance. I am exhausted from the constant and mounting stress levels that have rendered me physically ill and bitter against God…all because I am trying to keep all the plates spinning all by myself…all to my own glory. The sickening part is that my actions have created a fearful environment for my 13 year old son, a lapse in time with God, and an outlook that is not one of a life-long Christian. In short… I look like the world, and have struggled to even get to church regularly, because I find it cloying. The video showed that to me in a very real way, when she spoke of the things of God actually being annoying when your spirit is dead. That’s where I am…and I’m going to put down my shovel.
Sin works through life in weird ways. In this video they describe sin as the stuff that the devil makes look fun, he makes sin seem easy.
Oh my oh my!!! So earlier this afternoon, my kids and I were outside playing with a frisbee. And my son threw it so high it flew all the way on top of the roof. They were on the side/ back of the house that they didn’t see it. I gasp and was like oh, it did’t come down off the roof (but it actually had). In my mind, I’m thinking I’m playing a joke on them. They saw that the frisbee was on the ground. They turned to me and was like" mom, haven’t you been baptized and you lied." My mother used to say a lie is a lie that is a lie. My children are fully aware of who God is and the fact that they know that God doesn’t like liars. So, I’m watching week 3 and I got put in my place again. I am a liar and it needs to stop, because I’m starting to see it in my children. We will call it "a little white lie" but its just as the same as me killing someone in God’s eyes. Scary right!!! Right !!!
My sin is hurtful to myself and others. No matter how hard I try to not sin, I am human, and therefore sinful. It shows others my imperfections, and is hurtful to others when I sin intentionally.
Sin effects every aspect of my life. Confidence, condemnation, dishonesty, lust, envy, self-righteousness, on and on and on.
I can now see that if and when I say or do something wrong, I recognize it immediately. I also see the consequences it brings to those around me or who I sinned against. I see the hurt or anger and then the repercussions. I feel the guilt immediately. I always go to God and ask for forgiveness and then have to ask for forgiveness to the one I hurt. When it is myself though, it is still difficult, but I am learning that God is always forgiving.
When we (I) sin, I then feel guilty and unworthy even though I know no one is perfect.
When I sin I feel guilty and ashamed always after. The before, the before and during has me feeling I’ve got this, I know what I’m doing. Then the after creeps in and I know my decision, My ways are not the right ways. On His are.
After I sin, since becoming a Christian, I feel guilt immediately after or during. I know what I did or am doing is wrong and not Godly, but I did it anyway.It’s a very strange feeling to describe.