Stumbling ... In So Many Ways ... (James 3:1-5a)

Today’s scripture: James 3:1-5a

“… we all stumble in many ways.” Isn’t that the truth?

None of us is able to “bridle the whole body.” None of us is perfect. We will stumble.

The question is, what do we do when we stumble? Do we throw our hands up in defeat and continue in our sin? Do we figure we’ve failed so badly there’s no hope?

If you have never accepted the gift of salvation of your sins, all you need to do is confess your need for salvation and submit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then find a Bible-teaching church. Get a Bible and read it every day. Pray for guidance and help from the Holy Spirit.

But if you’re already a Christ-follower, don’t ever give up. Know that you will stumble, but the more you grow in your faith, the more you become like Christ, the less you’ll stumble. And when you do, confess your failings and commit to avoiding that sin in the future. Keep away from anything that might make you stumble—that means you may have to give up certain friends or seeing certain movies or going certain places.

Because, yes, you may stumble. But you have choices to make that might keep you from stumbling again.

Sorrow Leading to Repentance (2 Corinthians 7:8-9)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-9

Throughout God’s word, we’re promised joy—not happiness, perhaps, but joy. Happiness is based on circumstances. Joy is a state of the heart.

Psalm 16:11 tells us that:

You [God] will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We can even find joy through adversity (James 1:2). God, our loving Father, wants our joy.

So why does Paul write about not regretting causing sorrow for his fellow believers? One commentary clarifies:

Sorrow according to the will of God, tending to the glory of God, and wrought by the Spirit of God, renders the heart humble, contrite, submissive, disposed to mortify every sin, and to walk in newness of life. And this repentance is connected with saving faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement. There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort, and the sorrow of the world. (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)

We should be sorrowful about our sin, and that sorrow should lead us to repentance.

But once we’ve repented, we can be certain that God has removed that sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). And then we can experience that God-given joy.

Lawful, yet Sinful (1 Corinthians 6:12-14)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-14

Susanna Wesley was the mother of two great men of faith, John and Charles. A wonderful quote about sin is ascribed to her: “Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish for spiritual things then it is sin for you, however, innocent it may be in itself” (source: dailychristianquote.com).

This is very much what Paul is saying. Yes, there are many things the Bible condemns as sin—those things we must not do—adultery, lying, wrath, pride. But sometimes, even those things that are “lawful” become sin to us. If I’m focusing on a hobby or a vocation or a relationship that takes my focus off of God, then it is sin for me.

One definition of sin is “missing the mark” or not being whom God has created me to be. Sin is anything that separates me from God and His plan. So, believe it or not, even ministry can be sinful if I’m not pursuing it wholeheartedly seeking God’s will.

Praise God, though, all we have to do is turn back to God—and turn over anything that is making God anything less than the number one priority of our lives. We merely need to “confess our sin [knowing that He is] faithful and just to forgive us of our sin” (NASB, 1 John 1:9).

Or as Martin Luther wrote, “Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want” (source: dailychristianquote.com).

Indeed. Choose what you want. Choose those things that are profitable and choose not to be mastered by anything—other than the Master of your heart.

A Clean Heart and a Steadfast Spirit... Every Day (Psalm 51:10)

Today's scripture: Psalm 51:10

As I meditated on today’s scripture, it struck me that I should pray this verse every day.

“Create in me a clean heart.”

This is a confession of sin. It’s a request for the Lord to thoroughly wash away the junk and reveal the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.

I need to pray every day for a renewed cleansing because, every day, I mess up. A prideful thought may enter my mind. An angry outburst at another driver may be uttered. A feeling of discontent may rest on my heart.

So every day, I need to ask God to “create in me a clean heart. And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

I looked up “steadfast,” and it’s defined as “firmly fixed in place; not subject to change” and a “firm belief, determination or adherence.” That’s what my faith needs to be: firmly fixed in place. I cannot waver. If I believe what I say I do, I must do so with a strength of conviction that nothing can sway.

This doesn’t mean I don’t question how God works. Or that sometimes I may still doubt. Or that I may not completely understand why things happen the way they do.

But through the questioning, the doubt, the lack of understanding, my faith remains strong. It will not change.

I pray for many things every day. My husband. My family. My friends. God’s will for my life. And now I want to pray for a steadfastness of spirit, for a firmly-fixed faith, and a clean heart ... every day.

These are requests I know God will answer “yes.”

Confess Your Sin (Psalm 32:3-5)

Today's scripture: Psalm 32:3-5

Yesterday, we talked about the blessing of forgiveness. We also talked about the two paths that are often taken: using forgiveness as a license to sin (may it never be, as Paul often wrote),  or continuing to wallow in guilt. Neither is the way our Lord wants us to live.

There's a third path today's verses deal with: unconfessed sin and its repercussions. Once we confess our sins, God is indeed faithful to forgive them (1 John 1:9). We no longer need to live under their burden.

However, sometimes, we have a hidden sin—well, hidden from everyone but God, that is. We have a secret addiction or a unhealthy habit. We hold it closely, not willing to give it up. What often happens, though, is that hidden sin becomes a stronghold, an obsession. And often, that hidden sin causes other issues, including physical or emotional issues. The New Living Translation paraphrases verse three:

When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.

Now, certainly not all pain and suffering is because of unconfessed sin. Many godly, committed believers deal with chronic pain or disease. However, sometimes, we do experience physical suffering because of sin.

What's the solution? Confess! God knows our sins, even those we try to keep hidden. All He wants is for us to come to Him, confess, accept His gift of salvation, and "sin no more."

When we do, He forgives. He forgets.

Pardon My Iniquity (Psalm 25:11)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:11

The Bible tells us (and I'm pretty sure we'd know this even if it didn't) in Romans 3:23 that ALL have sinned ... ALL. I think that means ... ALL.

Even if one doesn't believe in the Bible, I think most people would agree that there's something is very, very broken in this world.

It often seems quite hopeless ... or at least it would be if I wasn't assured that the God of the Bible is faithful and real and true, and He offers salvation.

I know I can cry the words of the psalmist, "Pardon my iniquity ..." and He will. I know I can confess my sins, and He will be faithful to forgive me (1 John 1:9).

Even more, I know that one day, this broken, sinful world will be no more. There will be a new heaven and a new earth—a perfect place where I will be in the presence of my Lord God forever.

So, while on earth, I commit each day to the Lord. I seek His will and His purpose. I confess when I sin ... and I sing the wise, enduring words of my very favorite hymn:

"Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Blessings all mine and ten-thousand besides."
("Great Is Thy Faithfulness," lyrics: Thomas O. Chisholm)

Never-Remembered Sin (Psalm 25:6-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:6-7

I wasted so much of my youth. Because of abuse I experienced from ages nine to 16, I turned my back on the Lord. I chose my own path and did so much of which I'm not proud.

After I gave my life back to the Lord over 20 years ago, for several years, I would beat myself up for those lost years. After I began to truly meditate and study God's word (see yesterday's devotional for more about this topic!), He would give me "splashes of joy" that reminded me that I was forgiven—completely.

Verses like today's reminded me of God's "tender mercies and ... lovingkindnesses ..." Then, even better, He'd remind me that He doesn't "remember the sins of my youth ..." Elsewhere, I knew I could be confident: "How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!" (CEV, Psalm 103:12).

Sometimes, the enemy of our souls wants to drag us down and make us wallow in our sins, even those made years ago. This is not the heart of our Father. He promises that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (NKJV, 1 John 1:9).

Our Savior died as a "once-for-all" sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. All He asks is that we "go and sin no more" (NKJV, John 8:11).

Praise God for His mercy and grace ... and thank Him that He remembers our sin no more.