Castle Pfalzgrafenstein with Oberwesel
Good morning, beloved,
Allow me to share with you the verses of the day:
8If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts].
9If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
10If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].
Eilean Donan Castle Taken out of square from Totaig, across Loch Duich
I believe what is interesting about the mind…maybe it’s just my mind..yet I doubt it…is our ability (I’m going to assume it’s not) to reason our way out of sin. We can look at someone else’s sin and see it so blatantly. Analyze it. Judge it. Get him/her the help they need. All within a few seconds. And look at the verses I shared above, nod my head and say, that will really help this person. Ha! All the while, the Holy Spirit is trying to hold our pointed finger, pry it open and lay it flat. Lift our hands up to God and say, it is I. I am the sinner..
3Why do you [a]stare from without at the [b]very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam [c]of timber that is in your own eye?
4Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam [d]of timber in your own eye?
5You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.
Back to 1 John tho, why is John spending so much time on sin? I mean, isn’t it so much more fun to talk about grace and mercy and stuff? Well, yes but John answers that in verse 4…
4And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and [f]your joy may be complete].
Friends, spend the time on the hard stuff in your life. Keep coming back to the junk in your life and deal with it. Don’t shove it under the carpet for another day hoping it will just go away. Joy. Joy. Joy! Complete joy. Don’t be focused on others sins. Others wrongs. Be praying for them, yes. Yes!! Do not be judging them. There is only one Judge and He is doing just fine without you.
Pray on. Pray on…
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