What Ever Happened to Sin?

This morning I was reading over tomorrow's Sunday School lesson and the topic was sin. Particularly,  When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Later on I was working in my yard trying to remove some persistent weeds/vines [?] that keep coming back every year.

But I was determined that they had to go, so I proceeded to dig them up. I was totally shocked when I saw the root system on this small plant. I had to use an ax to remove them. It was then I remembered the Sunday School lesson I had read earlier this morning. Eve had no idea where her decision to disobey (sin) God would take her and that it would affect the entire human race thousands of years later.

Millions of people today still believe that they can disobey God and it will not affect them or others. They think they have a better plan for their life than God has for them. Jeremiah 29:11 They do not realize that sin is progressive, that is it continues to become larger and larger until it has control of their life. What started out as excitement ends in destruction. James 1:14-16

Allow me to give you these words of warning:

• Sin will take you where you never planned to go.
• Sin will cost you more than you planned to pay.
• Sin will keep you longer than you planned to stay.

 



What Is in Your Hand?

There is no question that we live in a consumer-driven culture and nowhere is that seen better than attending church. Many people choose which church to attend by seeing who has the most to offer – music, preaching, children’s programs, etc. The motivation is “how will attending this church benefit me?”

God on the other hand has a different viewpoint on worship. I once read an interesting verse in the Bible that made be stop and think. “No one is to appear before me [God] empty-handed.” Exodus 23:15 , Exodus 34:20 , Deut. 16:16 God made it clear that worship is about Him, not us.

When we worship, God intends for us to bring something to offer Him. "...When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up."  I Cor. 14:26 When you last attended a worship, what did you bring to offer God? Or did you come empty-handed?

 

Giving God the Best

I have a question that has been on my mind for some time. Maybe you can have me solve this puzzle. If you have been in a leadership position in the church, you probably have faced this issue.

When a church wishes to purchases something; i.e. carpet, a church van, appliances for the kitchen, etc. why is it that we always (?) we almost always look for something cheap. Something that we ourselves would not buy and put in our home? It makes me wonder if we think God would be pleased with something inferior. Yet, under the Old Testament sacrificial system, your sacrifice had to be the best of your flow. Leviticus 22:19-25

I am a firm believer in good stewardship and I am not calling for extravagance  but should not we, who are no longer under the law, also give our best?

I would appreciate any thoughts you might have on the subject.

Chosen

One of the things that I dreaded during grade school was recess. I know that may sound strange, so let me explain. Our school was looked in the country and we had plenty of space to play during recess. We would often play softball and that was the one activity that I hated.

Two of the most athletic students where chosen as captains (logical) and they would choose their team from the other students. This is what I dreaded. Being that I was not they athletic, I was always one of the last chosen. To me that meant that I was not worthy to be on their team.

How much different in the Kingdom of God! When Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He did not chose them because of their talent or ability. By today's standards, they would not have been selected for the most likely to succeed. Jesus chose them because He saw their potential they had to become.

In our family devotions, my wife read John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." Jesus choose me not based on my talent or worth. He chose me because He loved me and THAT is what gives me worth.