Sliding Through
October 16-17
Stink bugs have been the pests of persistence around our area and though not minute in size, these creatures can slide through tiny cracks. Yesterday, I noticed a window sill full and realized I had not pulled down the lock latch on our window and though it appeared to be closed these bugs were sliding through, trying to find warmth and actually finding death as they became trapped in the window sill and unable to slither back out.
While amazed that they could get in this way, I thought about the similarity to sin. It can creep into our lives given the tiniest opening. Like the bugs' demise, sin brings death and robs joy.
Once again I had a double hitter as 1 John 1:9-10 enlightened my path through two different sources today.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Various methods have arisen from people as to the best way to eliminate stink bugs from your home. You do not want to smash them for it is then that their name takes flight and the "stink" arises. One neighbor taught me her plastic bag containing bug spray method. You keep a large Ziploc baggie on hand and capture the bugs and toss them in there, zipping it up before the stench gets out. Only problem, you still have a bag of dead stink bugs sitting around.
Praise God He came up with a plan to rid us of our stinking sins. Like catching the stink bugs, sins has to be removed through a process. The process begins with conviction, but needs to continue with our action of confession and repentance.
Rachel Olson says:
"Without conviction, however, there is no repentance. Without repentance, there is no grace to change. Without change there is no growth. Only future sins to be committed, glossed over, denied and forgotten. And in the process, we don't realize how miserable we truly are - how sick our souls become".
Let's Pray:
Father of Forgiveness, we worship You! Your love, grace and forgiveness are beyond comprehension. Wherever this Saturday has us, one thing we know for sure is that You are there with us. May our words and actions make You proud to call us your own and when they don't will You quickly convict us and set our repentance in motion, so that we may move on to a more pleasing path. Today our heart's desire is to honor You in all we do. Take the stink out of lives and place the Holy Spirit as a guard who helps us to choose to keep sin from sliding through. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Stink bugs have been the pests of persistence around our area and though not minute in size, these creatures can slide through tiny cracks. Yesterday, I noticed a window sill full and realized I had not pulled down the lock latch on our window and though it appeared to be closed these bugs were sliding through, trying to find warmth and actually finding death as they became trapped in the window sill and unable to slither back out.
While amazed that they could get in this way, I thought about the similarity to sin. It can creep into our lives given the tiniest opening. Like the bugs' demise, sin brings death and robs joy.
Once again I had a double hitter as 1 John 1:9-10 enlightened my path through two different sources today.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Various methods have arisen from people as to the best way to eliminate stink bugs from your home. You do not want to smash them for it is then that their name takes flight and the "stink" arises. One neighbor taught me her plastic bag containing bug spray method. You keep a large Ziploc baggie on hand and capture the bugs and toss them in there, zipping it up before the stench gets out. Only problem, you still have a bag of dead stink bugs sitting around.
Praise God He came up with a plan to rid us of our stinking sins. Like catching the stink bugs, sins has to be removed through a process. The process begins with conviction, but needs to continue with our action of confession and repentance.
Rachel Olson says:
"Without conviction, however, there is no repentance. Without repentance, there is no grace to change. Without change there is no growth. Only future sins to be committed, glossed over, denied and forgotten. And in the process, we don't realize how miserable we truly are - how sick our souls become".
Let's Pray:
Father of Forgiveness, we worship You! Your love, grace and forgiveness are beyond comprehension. Wherever this Saturday has us, one thing we know for sure is that You are there with us. May our words and actions make You proud to call us your own and when they don't will You quickly convict us and set our repentance in motion, so that we may move on to a more pleasing path. Today our heart's desire is to honor You in all we do. Take the stink out of lives and place the Holy Spirit as a guard who helps us to choose to keep sin from sliding through. In Jesus' Name, Amen
