Seeds of Sin | Discipleship Prayer Day 28
Keep me from things that knock me down and pull me away from you
God gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless… guiding us in proper paths for the sake of God’s good name… therefore, turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things so that I might live by your way.
― Paraphrase of Isaiah 40:29, Psalm 23:3b, and Psalm 119:37
The love of God does not coerce.
We are never forced against our will to do either wrong or right. Our decisions—good, bad, or otherwise—flow from the spring of our free will. Yet, to the one who calls out for help, with a sincere desire to do what is good and right, is given wisdom, discernment, and strength.
What are those things that will knock us down and pull us away from Christ?
What are those things for which we ought to be seeking wisdom, discernment, and strength to avoid?
Paul, writing to the churches in Galatia, Corinth, and Rome reminds his readers that the way in which the Spirit leads are often opposed to our own selfish desires. As such, we shouldn’t do whatever we want to do (Gal 5:16-17), because…
…our natural, selfish tendencies will tend to lead us toward things that knock us down and pull us out away from a spiritually fruitful relationship with our heavenly Father and the people around us.
These sorts of things include:
Sexual immorality, moral corruption, and doing whatever feels good,
Idolatry, curses, drug use and casting spells,
Hate, murder, fighting, and obsession,
Uncontrolled anger, malice, and deception,
Conflict, selfishness, and group rivalry,
Gossip, slander, libel, and dishonesty,
Pride, disrespect, boastfulness, and dishonor,
Disobedience to parents and disorderly conduct,
Jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that.
(Gal 5:19-21, 2 Cor 12:20, Rom 1:29-30)
These things are not of the Spirit because they turn our focus squarely on ourselves. They break relationships rather than build them, and tarnish the witness of Christ which we carry as our most treasured possession.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
― Proverbs 4:23
It is tempting to look at Paul’s list above and think, “Cool, I’m doing well. I’m faithful in my marriage, I don’t have any idols in my home, my anger is in check, and I never get drunk! No one can see the sins with which I struggle, so if I can just play it cool, I’ll be alright.”
Jesus, in Matthew 5:21-30, takes things a step further, however, by moving the seed of sin from the feet to the heart, from the action to the cognition, from the outward expression to the inner contemplation. One does not become guilty of murder by pulling a trigger that ends a life. The sin of murder has already taken root when a person allows anger and hatred to take hold and kill a relationship.
Sin begins when the seed is planted, not when the flower is in full bloom.
This was so important to Jesus, that he told his disciples to stop their worship at the altar in order to go mend relationships in which seeds of sin had begun to grow! When we have done all we can to remove the seeds of sin in our human relationships, then we can come before God with a clean heart to worship (Matt 5:23-24).
What is the seed of idolatry…or adultery?
What is the seed of dishonor…or dishonesty?
What is the seed of conflict…or corruption?
What seeds of sin are in my heart today?
Keep me from these things, O Lord, that knock me down and pull me away from you. Teach me to plant fruitful seeds that bloom into thoughts, words, and actions that glorify your name and bless the people around me.
very insightful--especially when we tell ourselves that we are ok because we don't do the obvious sins! Mom