Tag: sin

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Aligning Our Expectations

In the foreground old wooden boat in on top a white-washed building. In the background, white-washed building stretching to the edge of a cliff, the town of Oia on the island of Santorini, Greece. 
Romans 8:18 (ESV)—For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

When telling family and friends of my trip to Greece, I heard widespread appeal for travel companions: “Can I be your assistant?” “Do you need a bodyguard?” and “Can I travel along in your carry on?”

These responses made me wonder, what draws people to this place? Is it the travel magazines showing white-washed buildings perched on cliffs or the travel films boasting of ancient ruins? Does the Mediterranean diet attract the droves of tourists?

I think, yes, these do play a role. Yet I also see their part in building expectations, enticing us with a taste of what’s possible . . . a possibility that may let us down (say, when we realize the metro doesn’t run super early in the morning and we need another mode of transportation to the airport).

However, not all expectations disappoint, according to the Apostle Paul. He preached to the Romans of the expectation of meeting Christ in his Kingdom one day. When he noted God’s promise to free creation from the bondage of sin as a reward for their faith, he encouraged expectations aligned with God’s plan.

As such, Paul’s message suggests expectations play a role in our life. Our earthly expectations pull us back from seeking God’s promises, whereas our heavenly expectations draw us closer to aligning our plan with God’s.

Though we may suffer today, the future holds hope, a hope that seeks God’s inheritance rather than despair, a hope that seeks God’s guidance rather than stagnation. With the knowledge of God’s promise of a future free of sin, we can align our expectations with his plan. Drawing on hope puts our hardships into the perspective of Apostle Paul’s: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:19, ESV).

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Bringing God Into Focus

An overexposed photo of a waterfall
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)—Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

I love experimenting with my camera, especially using long exposure with waterfalls. Usually, though, I’m somewhere midday when it’s too bright outside for this type of photography. The photo becomes overexposed, and no amount of photo editing can fix it.

The risk of overexposure comes with a person caught in sin, too. Paul did not suggest yelling at them in public or ignoring the sin out of love. He suggested gently restoring the person.

How do we do this? We act on God’s Word. We allow our actions to shine the light on God and not on the person’s sin. Our goal is to restore with grace and not judgment.

One way to achieve this is to carry the burden of our fellow sinners—a great example of loving your neighbor as yourself. For instance, offers of forgiveness and comfort can balance critical comments from others and can enhance the person’s mental health.

Above all, a show of “love [that] binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14, ESV) brings God into focus for the person we are helping as well as for ourselves.

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Offering a Broken Spirit

I am a broken spirit loved by God.

Our sin runs deep, yet despite our faults God remains faithful. Faithful to demonstrate his love when we reveal our broken spirit in our books. Faithful to provide wisdom to others when we divulge our deepest thoughts in our devotionals. Faithful to comfort others when we share our stories in blog posts.

Because he is faithful, we can write with a broken spirit and offer our brokenness to God. Then he can use our words for his good.

Psalm 51:17 (ESV)—The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
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Finding Peace for Our Sins

A raccoon climbing a deck fence. On the deck, in front of the raccoon, is a trash can.
A raccoon sitting on a trash can in front of the lid.
A raccoon emerging from the trash can with a piece of food in its mouth.
Psalm 51:11–13 (ESV)—Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

A beautiful day beckoned with sunshine and seventy-degree weather. So my husband and I drove to a local state park, where we established ourselves on the dock, with camping chairs and books.

A few chapters into my book, I heard a shuffle that stole my attention from reading. Given no other people on the dock with us, I turned my head toward the sound.

A raccoon climbed onto the top of the trash can, pressed open the lid, disappeared inside, and came out dragging trash and discarded food. It hauled its meal into the overgrowth of trees and bushes.

Not a long time later, it emerged again, head peeking out from tall grasses. The creature scurried the same path to the trash can, climbed the wooden railings and onto the receptacle, then pushed open the door and emerged once again.

Watching this masked bandit, I thought it seemed ultra familiar with the location and ins and outs of this receptacle. Now, I wonder about the health of this (undeniably cute) trash thief. It takes the path back and forth from human food to natural home in the trees. The food fills its stomach, but it doesn’t receive its daily nutritional needs.

Like the raccoon, I sometimes find myself digging in the trash (metaphorically, of course) to try to find sustenance. For example, after a vacation, my hubby and I often hash out our trip. “What could have gone better” is an often-discussed topic, like that bedroom in the shared condo where we had to walk into the hallway for the bathroom. Affordable but awkward, to say the least. By the end of our nitpicking, I usually end up with a furrowed brow and a bad feeling. Not good for my mental health, for certain.

Our spiritual health also suffers when we try to find nutrition in the past rather than in the present in the presence of God. When we pull a sin from the trash, we’re tempted to pick it apart and mull over the negative aspects. Going back and forth to the same thing over and over again isn’t healthy.

Fortunately, this psalm of David shows us a better way of examining our sin: in light of God’s mercy and grace. Our past sins don’t hold us in the past but rather, when treated properly, sustain our spirit now and in the future. Our repentance puts praise on our tongues that can motivate others to seek the same forgiveness. A lesson that reaches further than any nitpicking of “what could have gone better.”

The better is in the sustenance of the Spirit, and only God’s love and mercy can help us find peace for our sins.