What Happens When I Sin?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I SIN?
Jeremiah 15:19
The Message: “This is how God answered me [Jeremiah]: ‘Take back those words, and I’ll take you back. Then you’ll stand tall before Me. Use words truly and well. Don’t stoop to cheap whining. Then, but only then, you’ll speak for Me. Let your words change them. Don’t change your words to suit them.’”

Keith tapped Shakira’s shoulder. “What?” she whispered, turning around.

“Uh” Keith began, “not sure what to say, Shak.” He looked down at the paper on his desk.

“Do you want to play 4-Square at recess?” Shakira asked.

“I really want to ask you something.”

“Ms. Temple’ll return soon…and our papers better be done, Keith.”

“I know…but I’m curious about…what happens…when we sin?"

“Did you hit your little sister, again?” (See Permanence devotion).

“No, I just yell at her all the time. I want to stp doing that, but..."

“Oh. I get it. You’ve got to repent, Keith.”

“I say, ‘I’m sorry’ a lot, but it’s not working.”

“Repent is more than you’re being sorry. It means to agree that your actionn is wrong, turn away, determined not to repeat it.”

Shakira’s correct. God’s love is not dependant on strict obedience to the Ten Commandments. But many people would rather continue doing wrong than change their ways. Repentance means to change one’s mind and attitude—from sin—towards God. This dominoes into changed actions and decisions. Repentance confesses sin with godly sorrow (2Corinthians 7:10), then forsaking it. John the Baptist preached that people should turn away from one way of living to embrace God-honored living. (Matthew 3:8).

Did you know that Moses killed a man? (Exodus 2:11-13). Yet God blessed him mightily. God loves us through sin—even when we disobey. His love is limitless. That’s called grace. Grace covers sin for those who trust in Jesus, enabling us to respond with fruits worthy of repentance. Galatians 5:22 tells us what fruit God’s expecting from His kids. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, kindness, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness.

The best part? No one can sin beyond our Lord’s forgiving grace.

Keith tapped Shakira’s shoulder.

“What now?” she whispered.

“Why are there so many rules to being a Christian?”

“Shhhhh. That’s for another day, Keith.”

Take Home Nugget

But grace is not a license to sin, either. You can think of grace as a time out. It covers God’s kids until they figure out what’s wrong, and remember to repent. But when time out is over, God allows us to experience the consequences of our sin—just like parents often do. But don’t worry, the Holy Spirit will help us to turn away from any sin we just repented.

Repent and leave the sin

That we loved before.
Display our sure win
Repeats the sin no more.

J.D. Griffith

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