How to Have Right Response to Sin
Do you have the right response to sin in your life? You will learn how to change the tendency to say, “I haven’t sinned,” into humbly living in victory.
Do you go months or even years without sinning? Probably not!
Chances are that you rationalize away your sin as ‘mistakes’ or things you did ‘wrong’ like I often do.
We live in a society that often explains away sin as behaviors and issues that cannot be helped without medications or therapy.
I’d like to ask you to take a look at Psalm 51 with me without skimming through it and seeing it as a response to God for a heinous sin that David committed.
Even if your sins aren’t so great, they are just as big in God’s eyes until we repent.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment. Psalm 51:1-4
I realized the other day that even a little sin would still require the right response in God’s eyes.
God is a just and holy God. He wants to give us grace and mercy but He can only give that to us when our response is to admit our sin.
David is Confronted by Nathan the Prophet (2 Samuel 12)
David had great integrity as a young man and loved the Lord with his whole heart.
He had fallen deep into sin when he had an affair with Bathsheba and she became pregnant. One sin led to another and he tried to cover it up and ended up arranging for Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) to be put on the front line of battle so he would be killed. (2 Samuel 11)
To make a long story short (2 Samuel 12), Nathan the prophet came to David and confronted him with his sin.
Many people today wouldn’t think David did anything wrong. In our culture, we like to water sin down.
That’s why we don’t think anything when a woman lives with her boyfriend.
How many times have you heard someone encourage an unkind retort?!
A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself. Proverbs 11:17A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
God Doesn’t Give Up on You!
Even when you’ve sinned, God doesn’t give up on you.
Look at the first verse from Psalm 51 and you’ll see His attributes in this loving response.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1
God shows lovingkindness, no matter what you have done.
He is merciful towards us when we come to Him and repent.
The best thing is that God doesn’t give up on you or me. He has loyal love!
No matter what sin you have done, you are NEVER beyond God’s grace.
Go to the Right Source!
We try to make ourselves feel better by covering up our sins.
We blame others or minimize what we have done.
We might even . . .
- Go to church!
- Clean up our life a little!
- Do an act of kindness!
All those things are good things that we SHOULD be doing but they will NOT take away or cover our sins!
ONLY going to Jesus who is the RIGHT SOURCE and repenting will work. He died on the cross to take your sins away. Nothing you do will remove your sin.
ONLY Jesus!
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
Calling Sin by the Wrong Name!
I majored in Psychology in college (who knows why . . . I was young) and so I know exactly how modern psychology has turned the idea of sin upsidedown.
There are all sorts of anxieties and depressions.
We diagnose and medicate and it is rare when anyone sees how God corrects you when you sin.
I am not saying that depression isn’t real. I have dealt with it and written about it.
I am saying that there are times when sin is given a ‘diagnosis’ instead of calling it for what it is!
Sometimes a family needs relief because a situation is extenuating. We were ‘there’ with one of our daughters and I understand.
So, I am saying this with compassion and love. You might be dealing with your situation the best you can.
Because so often in my own life, I rationalize, blame, and call sin by another name, I am not asking God to search my heart daily.
Whether it is your own ‘little’ or ‘big’ sins or the sin in someone else’s is affecting you, go to Jesus. The Source.
Are you experiencing anxiety and worry because of someone in your life? God can give you release and help in Jesus through these 12 Verses to Calm Your Worry About Anxiety.
God is your Source!
God is your Source and will satisfy your deepest anxiety and emptiness with His presence. He will help you live victoriously in Jesus!
When you come to Him and tell Him all the things that are going on in your life, He will comfort you and fill you with His presence.
- For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Psalm 107:9
- The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! Psalm 22:26
- In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
Your situation may not change but God can miraculously work through it.
You might still need your medication for anxiety or pain, but God loves to satisfy you with Himself as you grow closer to Jesus.
He is our Supreme Treasure!
He can fully satisfy you!
Are you struggling with a situation in your life that you would like prayer for? Reply in the comments below as I would love to pray for you!
RESOURCES:
I read ‘Climbing’ by Rosalind Goforth a few years back and was so challenged by her humble walk with the Lord. She was a missionary, married to Jonathan Goforth, but unlike her husband, she struggled much like you or I.
It is a short book that easily fits into a busy schedule. Best of all, it is affordable!
