During the last few weeks, I’ve tried to help a few women carry the burden of grieving over their husbands’ infidelity. When a Christian woman discovers that the man with whom she has chosen to walk though life, is walking through the most intimate part of life with another woman, the devastation and trauma is greater than that incurred upon the death of a spouse. I believe the Lord knew that the innocent spouse would almost always be the person on the planet who would best be able to discern whether or not a wayward spouse was broken and penitent–whether or not there was a reasonable hope for future fidelity and faithfulness. I believe that’s the reason He grants that innocent one the option (the choice) of divorce and of, one day, marriage again (Matthew 19:9).

As I spoke with one sweet woman recently, she said, “It’s just so hard for me when people in the church think I should just be able to go on as if nothing has happened. They think he’s repented because he came before the church, so I should be able to just go on in our home and be happily married, when, in reality, my husband is unwilling to make substantive changes in the lifestyle that led him down a destructive path. I feel as if they think I am the one who is sinning when I consider divorce, at this point.”

Another woman I met a few months back, wrote this:  “The hardest part was the “advice” of other ministers and Christians that felt I was harsh and unforgiving. But sadly I had suffered in silence for many years and unintentionally covered his indiscretions and trusted his words. The biggest “piece” that people don’t understand is that one mistake is not ‘one mistake’ in an otherwise ‘beautiful marriage’ where infidelity is concerned. It means someone has been lying to you about the most integral and important part of your marriage for months or years and you did not see it. It’s almost like a serial killer who presents themselves as loving and kind to everyone else. That sounds harsh but that’s how it feels. You can’t be a great person but lie and deceive the one you owe the most honesty and respect to.”

Today’s post is not intended to encourage divorce after adultery has taken its toll. I know that, for children and even for spouses who have been subjected to the ultimate pain, there can often be the greatest healing inside the violated marriage. This is the case when there is an acute brokenness over sin and a strong desire to follow God’s plan for restoration; seeking accountability and being willing to pay any price to be holy and have a sanctified marriage.

But I am saying that we, as God’s people should recognize and honor the God-ordained prerogative given the innocent spouse to make that huge call about whether or not to reconcile. We can give counsel when asked. We should pray fervently for wisdom for the hurting spouse. But we should be careful not to subject the spouse who chooses divorce to our harsh judgment. That innocent party is likely experiencing life’s greatest pain as she reaches for her church family. She should be comforted and supported even more than ever before.

God, himself, gave us a picture, through Jeremiah, of the incredible hurt caused by adultery, when he used the physical unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah to allegorize spiritual adultery.  He even spoke of the “return” to God, the one with Whom she had a covenant. He said the return was not with the whole heart, but in pretense.

The Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 3:6-10

Sometimes, the deceit is very deep and the penitence is very shallow. Whatever is the case, the spouse who has remained faithful is given the Biblical right to make a life and eternity decision. His or her family in the Lord should be as accepting of that as is the Lord, Himself.

And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”  Matthew 19:9.

Cindy Colley

Psalm 32:4b “. . .my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.”

We were packed and ready to depart but being in momma mode, I took one more sweep of our hotel room to assure we had left nothing behind. It was in that last moment, I spied something. It was so subtle I almost overlooked it. But peeking out from behind the mirror on the wall was the corner of a piece of paper. Out of curiosity (of which I have an abundance), I pulled it out to discover a folded-up note. There, written in unmistakable middle-school font was the following message:

    “Have a Great Day! Don’t let your day be shriveled up like a raisin.”

This out-of-the-blue blessing made me smile. Although I knew I had never read this exact blessing in scripture, I found it quite profound in a very simplistic sort of way. I felt scripture would support such an odd blessing, so I began a scavenger hunt and landed in Psalm 32. In this psalm, David’s sin lingered ever before him and separated him from God. This great divide dried up David’s soul like a desert. I guess you could say, like a shriveled-up raisin and leaving David desperately seeking the refreshing waters of forgiveness.

The truth of the matter is that my sin too separates me from God, leaving my soul depleted. But laying transgressions down at the cross of Jesus offers the life-giving water of forgiveness. So, when sin drains our lives, friend, take heart. Our Heavenly Father’s sweet redemption breathes new life into us. So, allow me to pass on to you my unexpected behind-the -mirror blessing:

                “Have a Great Day! Don’t let your day be shriveled up like a raisin.”

Father God, may we always seek you for the refreshment of our souls.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane

This past Sunday, a man rolled his wheelchair-bound mother into the auditorium of our church building. As she passed by our pew, I leaned over to tell my young friend Collins that the sweet lady in the wheelchair recently got baptized. Collins said, “Was it hard for her to get in the water?” I answered, “Yes, it was.” It was actually very difficult for her. A couple of nights earlier I watched her slowly make her way up a few stairs to the changing room, flanked by her son and daughter-in-law. Halfway up, they had to give her an inhaler and let her rest. Several of us watched a little later as she came up out of the baptistry water, happy, but hanging on to Neal’s arm and gasping for breath. Her conviction led her to get in the water. Her bravery moved the rest of us to tears.

I’ve seen many other baptisms where it was ‘hard for them to get in the water’ but it had nothing to do with physical limitations. I knew a very vocal atheist who surprised everyone when he embraced and obeyed the Truth. I met a young couple who obeyed the gospel knowing their family wouldn’t approve. (They were actually disowned by their family.) I’ve seen individuals put on Christ only after painfully acknowledging that what they’d always been taught was wrong. I’ve seen people willing to get baptized knowing full well they were going to have to significantly change their worldly lifestyle. You can’t help but be moved by such examples of humility and faith!

These memorable moments have been happening since the very beginning of the church. Can you imagine what Paul must’ve felt as he went from “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” to becoming one of them (Acts 9)?

Every single baptism is special, but I’m especially thankful for those who were willing to overcome obstacles. Perhaps your own conversion story involved something that made it hard to get in the water. If so, I hope you realize that, in addition to making the very best decision of your life, you also inspired others by your courage!

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

By Kathy Pollard

Until then we encourage you to visit our sister blog, https://www.lordletmegrow.com/freebiblestudy for new material.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

I get Pinterest emails often with pins about what not to wear at different ages. I’m not sure anyone gives that a second thought the way people dress today. We have truly gone “casual,” even, what used to be the most formal events. Pants have become the normal attire for every occasion for ladies, and men rarely wear dress shirts and ties with their slacks.

This is not a list of things not to wear on our bodies, but this is a list of things we should not wear in our hearts and minds. What we wear on our physical bodies affects our feelings about ourselves, but what we wear on the inside greatly affects every aspect of our being.

I recently read an article by Courtney Carver, and her message struck me as something Christians need to consider. Though her article had no religious content, I think there are an abundance of Scriptures that will support the three things she mentions.

The first thing she suggests is to stop wearing the guilt of your past. I think all of us feel guilty about something in our past. No one is without sin, and no one can escape this life without regrets over past mistakes. The thing we don’t want to do is to let that dominate our lives to the point that we can’t live the life God wants us to live.

Guilt is that feeling of having done something inappropriate, sinful, or having failed to meet some obligation. God gave us that feeling in order to touch our hearts and help us feel remorse or shame for what we did wrong. It is good to have a conscience and feel remorse or shame for mistakes, but living forever with guilt for wrongdoing will destroy a person. Judas is an example of such destruction. He knew he had done wrong, but he took the destructive way out and took his own life. God would have forgiven him, but Judas didn’t choose that path.

King David had a multitude of sins about which to feel guilty. He committed adultery, he lied, and he ordered a murder all for a woman he had no right to have. He even deliberately disobeyed God. His reaction was to repent and ask God’s forgiveness. Did he forget what he did? No, he didn’t; but he moved on. He did not dwell on his past mistakes. How could he do this? He had God’s promise that He would forgive him. Though David had to pay for his mistakes, he still was called “a man after God’s own heart.”

The apostle Paul had a lot about which to feel guilty. He persecuted Christians, but he changed his life. He still remembered what he had done, but he was grateful for the Lord’s forgiveness.

The second thing we should not wear is the pressure to prove ourselves. This equates to trying to be something we are not. Whether good or bad, trying to be like someone else or trying to prove you are a certain way is not what God wants in our lives.

The Children of Israel wanted to be like the nations around them. They wanted a king. Sadly, they caused themselves much heartache because they were not like everyone else. They were God’s chosen people. They already had a king. Their kings led them into idol worship and other sins that defamed the name of God.

Ananias and Sapphira wanted to receive the praise for donating the proceeds from the land they sold for the needy Christians. Sadly, they lied about what they received for the land, and their lie cost them their lives and their souls. They both had an opportunity to repent, but they didn’t.

Sometimes we try by our dress, our actions, our words to make ourselves appear something we are not. Some people want to appear to have more money than they actually do. Some will lie about their education to appear smarter. Some do good deeds for the sole purpose of being praised for their efforts, much like the Pharisees did. Jesus said their good deeds were for the wrong reason, to be seen of men. They wanted to appear to be more righteous than anyone else.

The third thing we should not wear is other people’s expectations and judgments. Why do we try to please others with our choices? It is because we want to be accepted. That is the reason so many young people get into trouble. They do things they know are wrong because they want everyone to like and accept them.

King Solomon wanted to please his wives, so he built temples and altars so they could worship their gods. Pilate wanted to please the people, so he consented to the death of Jesus.

When we belong to Christ, guilt, trying to prove ourselves, and living for others’ approval should not be part of our spiritual wardrobe. We need to be what God expects of us, not what others think. We cannot control what others think, and we can’t really change who we really are.

These are the things we need to “wear.” We need to “wear” an attitude of loving ourselves and the Christian life. We need to “wear” trust in God and trust in who we are as Christians. We need to trust our ability to care about others but not because of how they feel about us. We need to “wear” our passion for living according to what God expects.

The writer of Hebrews offers us the best advice for what we should wear. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he had said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’. So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Sandra Oliver

“But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe [“coat,” KJV] and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice” (1 Samuel 2:18-19 NKJV). Looking closely at this passage, we see several important things. Primarily, we see Samuel serving the Lord in the Temple at a very young age. Other passages about the life of Samuel tell us how Hannah prayed earnestly for him and vowed to give him back to the Lord if He would grant her a son. Samuel’s birth, training and life were the direct results of Hannah’s love for God and her faithfulness to that vow made several years before. Not only do we see Hannah’s love in training her son for that purpose, but we also see a further demonstration of a mother’s love in her yearly gift of a coat when she came to offer sacrifices with her husband at the feast.

Samuel wore an ephod, as did the priests with Ahimilech (1 Samuel 22:18). There is no question that the ephod was at least closely associated with the priesthood. Apparently, it was not limited to the high priest. Later in Samuel’s life, he was a judge, a seer and a prophet but not a priest at that age. However, as a descendant of Levi through Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:38), the same tribe from which Aaron descended, Samuel was a priest’s helper (1 Chronicles 6:1-3; 1 Samuel 3:1). His father was an Ephrathite, because he lived in Mt. Ephraim, but not because he was descended from the tribe of Ephraim. Hannah may also have been of the tribe of Levi, but there is no record of it. In any case, Samuel wore the ephod, which shows it was not limited to the high priest or even to the priest. Samuel was a prophet just as David was a prophet (Acts 2:29-30), and therefore authorized as much as David to wear an ephod.

See 1 Samuel 7:9 concerning Samuel’s ancestry. “And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.” We know that King Saul was condemned for offering a sacrifice, which only the priests and Levites were authorized to do. Samuel was at least a Levite (if not a priest) or he would have been condemned along with King Saul.

How and when did little Samuel wear the coat his mother made him? It is not generally known, but we may assume he used it to cover himself in cold weather or perhaps even to cover himself  as he slept at night. It may have been brightly colored like the coat Jacob made for Joseph, but we cannot say. Nevertheless, it was a gift of love from a mother who never forgot the child she could not redeem (Numbers 18:15) because of her vow. Hannah’s faithfulness in keeping her vow was paramount, but her faithfulness in showing love both to her God and to her son was never laid aside.

Beth Johnson

Recently I heard a term used in a sermon by Hiram Kemp. He commented that some Christians are content to play “hokey pokey” in  their Christian walk. They put their right foot in, and then they take their right foot out. In other words, they are seemingly devoted to Jesus one day, but the next day they have second thoughts and go back into the world. Any number of things can cause the vacillating conduct — doubt, fear, illness, sadness, lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, pride of life, and much more.

Unfortunately there were first century Christians who were content to practice “hokey-pokey” religion. When Jesus revealed himself in a vision to the apostle John on the island of Patmos, He had a letter He wanted him to deliver to the church of Laodicea.  He said, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— (Revelation 3: 15-16). Jesus said they didn’t even know their pitiful condition, he characterized as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. This would have resounded immediately with the Laodiceans because their city was known for its great monetary wealth, its unique medicinal eye salve, and its luxurious cloth. The Lord, however, was not talking about these physical, perishing things, but about their spiritual lives.

The Israelites under the rule of King Ahab had a similar problem. Through the prophet Elijah, God uttered his disapproval for their actions, “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21). Eventually God’s wrath came down on His people through the power of the Babylonian army. Their city was destroyed and many were either killed or taken captive.

Just as God warned the Israelites, Jesus warned the Laodiceans. He counseled them to buy from Him gold refined in fire that they might be rich, to put on white garments so the shame of their nakedness would not be revealed, and to anoint their eyes with eye salve so they may see (Revelation 3:18). The refining in fire may refer to persecution, about which Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20b). White garments may represent  clothes of righteousness or obedience to God Almighty (Rev. 7:9). Salve for the eyes may represent the need for all souls to see and accept/obey Jesus as the Son of God. Our Lord said, But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it (Matthew 23:16-17). Finally, Jesus reminded the Laodiceans, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19). Even though they were lukewarm, He had not given up on them. He believed they could change.

If we recognize that we have been playing “hokey pokey” religion, first we must repent, make a u-turn, and begin a new and better daily walk with Christ. Zeal, that is, “passion for Christ and compassion for others coming to the boiling point,” must fill our hearts and stir the appropriate actions!

Today’s Verses: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14).

Audios are available at http://christianwomanaudiodevotionals.abiblecommentary.com/index.html

by Teresa Hampton

The greeters are the friendly faces who welcome visitors and members as they show up for worship. Some people are greeters because they signed up to serve in that role for a certain amount of time. What a wonderful thing to do! Others are greeters because that’s just who they are. Wherever folks enter the building, they are typically nearby with a warm smile and a “good to see you!”

I can easily think of several people I know who will brighten my day when I see them. They’re reliably friendly and fill my heart with their sweet attention. I believe our congregation is welcoming, and they are the reason why.

If you feel like your church family is less than warm or welcoming, the good news is you can change that. All you have to do is be a greeter yourself! If you are consistently warm and friendly, then you are making your church family that way because you ARE the church.

I hope all church greeters know how dear and valuable they are. They help everyone feel seen. They make sure no one leaves without being spoken to. They are helping the Lord’s church make a great first impression on those who are visiting for the first time.

We should all be greeters, shouldn’t we?

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

Kathy Pollard

I identify strongly as a Southerner. It’s not a choice. There’s no denying it, really, when I wallered on the floor as a toddler. If my mother was not going to do a thing right now, she would do it d’reckly. When I was playing with, instead of eating, my food, I was told to quit messin’ and gomming. (I don’t even know.) The exclamation of choice in the adult conversation around me was “Well, I declare!” The middle-of-the-day meal was dinner and we wiped the table after it with a rag. We never had a pop. We had a coke, no matter what brand it was. I had a housecoat; not a robe. Crappie, the best of the best fish to catch at Hollis’s  Lake, rhymes with copy; not with happy.  (And, by the way, when fishing, I was watching my bobber.) I really didn’t know what a utility room was until I was an adult. It was the washroom. I had wonderful fluffy aunts (Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Bertie Mae) and the word aunt rhymed with paint; not rant and surely not font.

I remember “Cousin Cliff” and I remember southern advertising jingles like

Jack’s hamburgers for 15 cents are so good, good, good…. You’ll go back, back, back to Jack, Jack, Jack’s… For more, more, more.

I was on the five o’clock news on Birmingham’s channel 13 live from Hibbett’s in January, 1978 purchasing my Bama National Championship jersey, even as the title was being hotly contested.

I like mah-naise on my sandwich and I push a buggy at the store. I climbed Mimosa trees as a kid and caught lightning bugs (not fireflies) and tied a string on a June bug’s leg for hours of flying fun. I had several memorable whippins with a hick’ry. Sometimes, my mother would even make me go out and find the switch, myself. (Now there was a lot of thinking going on around those bushes.)

And never were there days as purely southern as the very rare snow day. First off, the weather-man (not meteorologist) never got it right in Alabama about snow, so there were many very disappointing awakenings on Lynn Dale Lane. But, when the world was white, after lots of excited shrieks, we scraped for snow cream first, and then we donned layers and layers of mis-matched pajamas, topped with a layer or two of Buster Brown snap sweaters, and a coat from the next kid up. (It had to be big by then.)  Then three pairs of socks and rain boots (never galoshes) if we had them, or bread bags tied around our tennis shoes. Metal trash can lids down the back hill between the house and the garden were the best! On rare occasions, we even got snowed in, and couldn’t make it to Adamsville for church, so we put on all those layers and we walked a couple of miles down the mountain to Sandusky, where Dan Jenkins or, later, brother Jarrett, was preaching. Those memories, before live-streaming, (or any of the conveniences and conflicts that have come with the internet) are pretty wonderful.

There were some very good things about Southern living that have left vestiges (remnants) for my life in Alabama still today. People did not pass people who had flat tires or over-heated radiators. People stopped to help. People in the store let me bring things home to try on before paying. “Just bring it back next time you’re in town.” People took up collections for neighbors—door-to-door— when they were sick or had lost a loved one. People were not afraid to answer the door and many people routinely left their doors unlocked. People called on neighbors—not door dash— when they were missing an ingredient. People scrunched up and made pallets when relatives came for extended visits and they had fun doing it. Mothers sewed and baked and were not afraid for their kids to walk home from the bus stop alone. Small-town kids could walk to the grocery store or up-town to the square and bring home the necessities without even having any money. The clerk knew and trusted the family to make it good on the first of the month, when billed.

Trust is the thing. It’s so important for making life work together. It’s essential for good marriage, for good neighborhoods and for good business— and it’s making a quick exit from our communities.

When we turn from the ultimate trust—trust in God—we become untrustworthy (and untrusting) toward our fellowmen. We are like the Jews to whom Jeremiah wrote in 9:4-6:

Take ye heed every one of his neighbor,

and trust ye not in any brother:

for every brother will utterly supplant,

and every neighbor will walk with slanders.

And they will deceive every one his neighbour,

and will not speak the truth:

they have taught their tongue to speak lies,

and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit;

through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord.

And then we slowly lose, not just the goodness of community, but the simple joys of community living. There are many fun things I got to do, when growing up, that my grandkids will not experience because of eroded trust.

I know these are mostly idle musings of a nostalgic grandmother. I know, too, that all good things must come to an end. Every society in history, left unconquered by enemies, has lost its way, and eventually crumbled from within. Though I am unable to prevent the demise of wholesome adherence to principles of integrity that engender trust in my country or even my community, I am able to BE trustworthy. I am able to be helpful to elderly Mr. Jimmie, across the street. I am able to take bread to neighbors and to check on them when something seems off. I am able to have people in my home for soup and to take soup to others who are sick or lonely. Most importantly, I can still say, “Would you study the Bible with me?” as I am praying for some soul that needs so badly to trust in the One who is the essence of integrity. The gospel is the truth that grows integrity in the lives of the people around me. It is the truth that transports us, rather quickly, from a place that has little trust left, to a place where there is no lack of trust, ever again. I want to be the spiritual remnant that is given the new order of trust spoken of by Zephaniah in 3:12,13. Faith in God changes everything and gives us hope for a home where trust is never eroded. May I share the “trust” that takes away fear.

I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people,

and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies;

neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth:

for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Cindy Colley

In the stories of The Hunger Games, Katniss, the main character, is called the Mockingjay. Mockingjay represents defiance and rebellion. If you are familiar with the story, you know that Katniss was at the center of a war with “The Capitol.” She was fighting for freedom for her people, and no amount of evil and resistance stood in her way.

The Mockingjay was a symbolic jabberjay bird created by the oppressors (The Capitol) to provide secret information to them. They were sent among the subjects of the land, and they reported to the Capitol any information they learned. Eventually, the subjects discovered the purpose of the birds and fed them misinformation. When the oppressors realized what was happening, they let them loose in the woods where they mated with female mockingbirds and learned to repeat sounds, even singing. Later they became a symbol for rebellion.

These birds were never meant to be created. They were not a part of the Capitol’s   original plan or design. When they no longer served their purpose, they were abandoned and left on their own to survive. They survived through the will to survive. It was persistence.

Mockingjay’s fight against evil reminds me a lot of our war with the devil. It’s hard to believe that Satan began his life with our heavenly Father; through a series of events unknown to us, he was forced out of heaven.

There are certainly differences between the mockingjays and our fight with the devil. We were not created by accident; and our war is real, not fictional. Also, we were each purposed, chosen, designed in the image of God. We were given a purpose, and that purpose has never changed.

Our war with Satan is much stronger, more difficult, more dangerous than the war Katniss faced with the Capitol. Our war is for our souls.

When we look at the attributes of Satan, we can see why we are at war. Satan has his sights on us. Paul says Satan is out to outwit us (Second Corinthians 2:11). Does that not sound like an act of war?

Satan also presents himself as an angel of light. Paul, when warning the Christians in Corinth about false apostles and deceitful workmen, said they present themselves as apostles of Christ. They do this because Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, and his servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

Satan hinders our every effort to please God. Paul, wanting to get to Thessalonica, says that he wanted to be there; but Satan hindered him (First Thessalonians 2:18). He will stand between us and every good deed we want to perform. He will stand between us and our desire to offer forgiveness, aid the sick and homeless, prevent us from teaching the gospel, and pretending to be our friend when we need one most. He will pose as good when, in reality, he is evil.

Our adversary can move in on the vulnerable when they are not looking. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, gave some specific instructions about the behavior of the women, particularly young widows, some of whom had remarried. Paul wanted them to fulfill their purpose as wives and mothers and homemakers and to not give Satan an occasion to slander. But Paul told Timothy that some had already “strayed after Satan” (First Timothy 5:15).

One of the scariest attributes of Satan is his ability to enter into our hearts and fill them with evil. Luke tells us that Satan entered into Judas Iscariot causing him to conspire with the chief priests and captains to betray Jesus. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira suffered a similar experience when they lied to the Holy Spirit and to the apostles. They conceived the deception in their hearts and acted on that lie to benefit themselves.

But there is hope. In the fictional stories of the Hunger Games, the people had to depend on one of their own people to save them. They suffered out of fear and neglect under a dictator that was evil and claimed to be just what they needed.

Does that not sound like the devil? He portrays himself as one who will provide us just what we need. He sells mankind the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. He makes promises he can’t keep, and the only thing he can give us is an eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

God makes no promises for wealth and power on this earth, but He promises us a home with Him in heaven for all who obey Him and remain faithful to Him. The writer of Hebrews reveals God’s enduring promise to us. “Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’” (Hebrews 13:5).

We don’t need a mockingjay to save us. We have Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself for us.

Sandra Oliver

The reality of sin has become distorted in the minds of many individuals in this ever-increasing humanistic world. Many souls do not understand what sin is. You can see it in such statements as, “He was a good person; now he is in heaven” or “I’m not as bad of a person as she is.” The reason for this misunderstanding of the nature of sin is due to the fact that the majority of people have drifted away from God’s Word. Many have grown up without being taught the Truth. They no longer look to the Holy Scriptures for answers to man’s greatest problem – sin. Indeed, many do not know that there is a problem! Because of this, we along with the prophet Hosea can say, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6 NKJV). Instead of letting the culture around us define sin, let’s look at what God’s Word says about this subject, which affects all of mankind.

What is sin? First John 3:4 states “sin is lawlessness.” The Greek word for sin means “to miss the mark” (to be mistaken, to miss the target, to lose the way) (Koehler). Psalm 51, written by a penitent, inspired David, contains some synonyms for sin – “transgressions” and “iniquity.” Sin is rebellion against God and a perversion of what He has set forth. We have the complete Word of God (1 Corinthians 13:8-12). By it, we can know what is good and what is evil. All people today are under the New Testament law (Romans 7:6). There is a law or else there would be nothing to break or disobey (Romans 4:15). “The faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” is God’s system of salvation – the Gospel of Christ (Jude 3). We must be trained by what He has set forth in the New Testament or our consciences can become dull (1 Timothy 4:2). This is so very important to remember in a “do what you want” world that tells us on all fronts that everything is relative (i.e., there is no truth).

Sin is an action – wrongdoing and failure to do what is right (James 4:17; 1 John 5:17). Sadly, many misunderstand this, thinking since they don’t murder or commit adultery then they are Heaven-bound. However, they fail to realize the things God’s law commands that they have neglected to do. We learn in James 1:12-15 that temptation is not sin, but giving in to the temptation is when we sin. Note the progression of sin in verses 14-15: “own desires,” “conceived,” “gives birth to sin” and “brings forth death.” It is not “the devil made me do it,” but one’s own wants and desires lead down the path to sin. In Matthew 4, Jesus was tempted in the same way we all are: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life (Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 2:15-17). Jesus resisted temptation by remembering God’s Word. We can, too (1 Corinthians 10:13)!

Genesis 3 records the origin of sin on earth. God gave the commandment (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam and Eve made the choice to break God’s law. We all, like Adam and Eve, have chosen to sin (Romans 3:23; 5:12). We each are responsible for our own actions and do not inherit sin from others (Ezekiel 18:20; Luke 13:1-5; John 8:34).

Seeing Who God is allows us to understand sin better. The prophet Isaiah understood this (Isaiah 6:5). Read and meditate on the whole chapter of Isaiah 6. When we by faith see what he was privileged to view – the holiness and glory of God – we, too, will say, “be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). A mindset of “I have no sin” or “I have not sinned” is deceiving oneself and refusing to see the truth of God’s Word (1 John 1:8-10). God is holy and demands holiness of His followers (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). Our sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2). The Lord hates sin, and His mercy will go only so far until His justice must serve punishment (Proverbs 6:16-19; Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 12:29-32; 18:9-14). God wants me to see sin as He sees it, confess and turn away from those iniquities (Psalm 51:17; Ephesians 4:25-32; 1 John 1:9).

What is the remedy for sin? In short, but oh so amazingly, the blood of Christ is the only remedy for sin (Revelation 1:5)! Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Law of Moses, which had a reminder of sin each year (Hebrews 10:1-4). Then, He established His new covenant by His very own blood (Hebrews 7:23-8:13; 10:4). Christ, as the perfect Lamb of God, has “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:23-28). As such, He has been given all authority and has commanded all people to do the same thing in order to come to God through Him. It is not sufficient to say, “I believe” and go on our merry way doing what we think is best. In Matthew 7:21-27, Jesus clearly stated that not all believers will be saved. Rather, it is those who are “doers of the word” –  those who are laying “aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness” as they receive His soul-saving Word (James 1:21-25). True belief in Christ will compel us to repent of our sins and be willing to confess that He is the Son of God (Acts 17:30; Romans 10:8-10). Putting our full trust in Him, we will submit to being immersed in water for the remission of our sins, understanding that it is in baptism where we meet the blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-7). God saves us from sin when we come to Him in faithful obedience (Colossians 2:11-13), and His grace continues to save us as we live a life putting His will before our own.

The Holy Spirit made it plain in 1 John 2:15-17 that sin is “not of the Father.” May we put in our heart of hearts that this “world is passing away” and recall this the next time we are tempted in the passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25).

Sin keeps us from being what God intended us to be. It wreaks havoc on our spiritual as well as physical lives. Sin is walking in darkness and will lead us to eternal Hell. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Works Cited

 Koehler, Ludwig; Walter Baumgartner; M. E. J. Richardson and J. J. Stamm. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Electronic Database. Boston: Brill P., 2000.

Emily Fisher