Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Litter Bugs

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

When I lived up north, I remember every spring after the snow thawed in the ditches, the ugliness of winter’s past sins would be revealed. An endless disarray of empty glass liquor bottles and aluminum beer cans lined both sides of our country road for more than a mile. Looking at the mess, I would think, in disgust. "Why do they have to throw their garbage in our ditch?” I still don’t know the answer to that question, but can you imagine the mess their lives are in if what they’ve left behind looks like this!

The Bible doesn’t pull any punches when it reveals God’s attitude towards sin’s ugliness. The Scriptures say sin is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 6:16) (Psalms 5:5). No matter if the sin is great or small in our mind, we suffer when we choose to disobey God. Our sinful actions and choices trash not only our lives, but also the lives of everyone they touch. As a Christian parent or a homeschooling parent, do you take your sinful failings seriously? Proverbs 14:9 says “Fools make a mock at sin.” Each time you choose to lose your patience, make unloving remarks, or fail to discipline your children, you leave a mess in your own family as well as the world. Left unchecked, sin’s filthy effect will split your family apart and give the world cause to look on homeschoolers and Christians with disgust. Will you start picking up the mess by coming before the Lord today and seeking His cleansing from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)?

Father,
Forgive me for not hating sin like You do. Help me to deal with those seemingly “little” sins that make my life ugly and ruin Your best in my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

20 comments:

TO BECOME said...

Pam, I loved this post. It is so true. Thank you. connie from Texas

Jodi said...

Amen!

Disney for Boys said...

Wonderful, wonderful post! Amen and Amen! I might have to link to it :-). Is this from a devotional???

Unknown said...

Connie: It is so true! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Jodi: The Amen you left tells me this blessed you!

Tiany: The idea for this post came from an email I received a while back. Feel free to link to anything on my blog!

Lyndy said...

Great post and so true. Thanks for sharing.

Hope you are having a great week.

Lyndy

~~Deby said...

you are so right..sin is sin is sin.....and the ones I make excuses for .......or have not gotten victory over...are still SIN.....thanks for the reminder...and I am still thankful for God's grace....I have been bought with a price.....Lord...forgive my sin(s)...
Deby

Rebecca said...

Good post.

Kimberly said...

Needed this today. Thanks Pam!

Susan said...

Sin is sin. We classify them "little" or "big" but God doesn't.

Psalms 51:4a "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight"
Susan

Rita Loca said...

In the words of my Hubby, "That'll preach!"

Adrienne said...

Thank you, Pam. So true.

Anonymous said...

Wow....how true this rings! We ALL sin, and daily in some way, and more when we are out of the Word and the Lord.

How sweet that relationship when there is "nothing between"....

Anonymous said...

Awesome words Pam! Thanks for your wisdom and insight. Great reminder for today and everyday.

Tina said...

Adding my own Amen and agreeing with you in that prayer. Thanks Pam!

Trella said...

Wonderful post!

Frazzled Farm Wife said...

Great post...loved it.

Ruth said...

This is so true. We have a tendency to categorize sin in degree of "badness". It's all offensive to God, and it all must go!!

Mishel said...

Pam, thank you for sharing an excellent post. You get a hearty Amen from me!

Hugs to you!!

Portrait of Peter said...

We both appear to have had the same thoughts and on the same day too.

Such is the thought of Sin and its misdeeds!!

HsKubes said...

Great post! Thank you for sharing this.

~ Christina