It’s kind of disturbing to think about how much I sin each day - what I think about, say, do, don’t do, etc.
I wish sin just meant things like stealing, killing, using the Lord’s name in vain. How often do we think of sin as the times we don’t pray, read the Bible, or serve?
For years I’ve been encouraged by a Steve Green song called “I Repent.”
The lyrics cover sin in a sweeping way: “… I regret the hours I have wasted and the pleasures I have tasted that you were never in.”
How often do you sin and think about your sins? Confess them? Turn away from them?
Before his song, Green offers a personal reflection on Sparrow Records’ “Listen to Our Hearts Volume 2″ CD. He discusses how he came to terms with the huge gap between a perfect Lord and the wretchedness of his sin. Green shares that he realized his attention shouldn’t be on all of the sins he needs to avoid. Instead, he decided to focus on Jesus to deal with those sins. “What I really need is a renewed love of Christ. The effect of that renewed love is the driving away of false affections and wrong desires.”
I grow weary of trying to conquer my sins. I’m glad the Holy Spirit helps me be mindful of them. But I want to find myself adopting Green’s attitude – to love Jesus more fully, to lean on Him and to learn from Him.
How do you regard sin? How are you coping?
Like me, do you fail to own up to your sins? Do you also struggle with them in your own strength rather than fall deeper in love with Jesus?