ALL SIN ISN’T MALICIOUS, ‘FREAKY’ OR CRIMINAL…

We have a tendency to categorize sins based on our culture, experiences, perceptions and personal theology. We tend to have BIG sins and little sins.

And, there are even some people who actually even feel that they don’t sin because they feel they aren’t committing the BIG sins.

We have this idea of what’s ‘evil’. When think of ‘evil’ things like violence, illicit sex, porn, drug abuse, physical abuse, oppression, racism, profanity, etc., etc., etc., come to mind.

However evil is simply that what is contrary to God’s will and falls short of His expectations.

Think about when Jesus was telling His disciples about His coming death and resurrection what Peter blurted out…in so many words he said, “No way! I got your back!”

Matthew 16:21-23 (NKJV)

²¹From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

²²Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ^[a]“Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

²³But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are ^[b]an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Notice how Jesus responded. Even though what Peter said sounded noble, it was contrary to God’s will. That’s was sin. It’s not malicious. It’s not sexual. It’s wasn’t criminal, but it is WAS evil.

Now consider this example I often use. Jesus clearly forbids taking oaths and swearing under any circumstances.

Matthew 5:33-37 (NKJV)

³³“Again you have heard that it was said to those of ^[a]old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷But let^[b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

But, even the U.S. Constitution demands an oath or affirmation office (President, for example Article II, section 1, clause 8). Now it has become tradition to swear in elected officials, military, law enforcement and sometimes on the very bible that forbids it.

Our culture today values pride and arrogance that is disguised as confidence and sometimes patriotism.

How many times have we ignored a beggar or someone in need?

How many days have we gone without praying for someone else?

How many opportunities to share our faith have we squandered because we were afraid, ashamed. or it just wasn’t a priority. That is the sole reason for many of our interactions and relationships to be God’s representatives.

Remember what Jesus said…

James 4:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

You don’t have to be ‘bad’ to be ‘evil’, and you don’t have break one of the Ten Commandments to sin.

Now is a great time to stop and thank God for His grace and mercy.

BE BLESSTIFIED!