Attitude to Sin

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, impurity of a sort that is condemned and does not occur even among the heathen; for a man has [his own] father’s wife. And you are proud and arrogant! And you ought rather to mourn (bow in sorrow and in shame)…” 1 Corinthians 5v1-2 (AMP)

“I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn’t be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you’re so above it all that it doesn’t even faze you! Shouldn’t this break your hearts? Shouldn’t it bring you to your knees in tears?...” 1 Corinthians 5v1-2 (MSG)

Beloved, what is your attitude towards sin? Does it faze you? Do you tolerate it? Or do you carry about being proud and arrogant? Paul is addressing the church here that he heard of such a report, and yet they are proud and arrogant … they are not mourning. It’s not getting to them… One sees the attitude of David towards sin when he was confronted by Nathan about his sin of murder and adultery. He said “… I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (2 Samuel 12v13, KJV). “he who covers his sin “ Saul on the other hand (see 1 Samuel 15), though he finally admitted he had sinned, had given different reasons for his lack of total obedience – the soldiers took the spoil to sacrifice to God, he was afraid of the men so he gave in to them. And at the end of it all, he was still concerned about being honored in the sight of the men, and asked Samuel to come back and sacrifice with him even though Samuel had told him that God had rent the kingdom from him. How is your heart beloved? Is sin a light thing to you? Do you care that God might be offended or do you give excuses – God understands, he or she made me do it?

Supplementary Text

“Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift your up and make your lives significant].” James 4v8-10 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your goodness. We pray that indeed we would love You with all of our hearts, and soul, and might and strength and love our neighbours as ourselves; for one attribute of love is that it does not rejoice in iniquity. Help us to hate and detest and not permit that which would displease You in our lives in Jesus name, amen.