I would have to say this is one word that has described me for a while now. Recently, I have been doing a major reality check on my life. Asking myself questions like:
Am I becoming more like Christ or the world?
Am I growing spiritually?
Am I seeing sin as repulsive?
Are my selfish desires being replaced with the will of God and His desires for me?
And so on..
Humbly, I answer these questions with the assurance that I know without a doubt God is sanctifying me daily as I fall more in love with Him! (Thank You, Jesus!)
But, there is one question that continues to dig deep at my heart – Are you constantly reminded of the Gospel, remembering that it was your sin that He died for because of His love for you? You may not understand why this question pierces me more so than the others, so let me explain. I’ll split this explanation into two parts for ya!
A. Sin - (My sin).
B. The Cross - (My cross).
Sin:
Point 1 – God HATES sin. He even gives us examples of the sin that he so much hates in His word. (Proverbs 6:16-19, Jeremiah 44:3-4, the list could go on..)
Point 2 – Yet we have ALL sinned. We’re all guilty. Period. (Romans 3:23) Those who are walking with God still mess up (we just don’t live in a continuous state of sin with no repentance), but we’re far from perfect. Our sin is SO repulsive, disgusting, and gross to God. Yet people sin carelessly and purposely sickening God to His core. So many times, we as ‘Christians’ write off sins as acceptable or okay, saying “Well, God forgives!” Sins such as gossip, lying, complaining or grumbling, taking God’s name in vain, and so on. ALL sin is the same in God’s eyes and so disdaining to Him. True love of God is true hatred of sin. You WILL love one and hate the other. Lately, looking at the world, I have become so disgusted with the sin that engulfs it and many people could care less. Even with the sin in the church. But then..
Point 3 - ..I’m reminded of Matthew 7:3-5. Check yourselves, Christians! So many Christians are so quick to point out someone else’s sin or struggles before looking at their own, me included! Lately, I feel God is bringing me to fully remember and see my own sin and realize how utterly repulsive it is to Him. As I am growing in my walk, trying to be as much like Christ as I can, I am continually brought to my knees in pure repentance of the sin that so easily entangles me. As I come to know Christ more, I am more and more seeing myself as filthy rags before Him. I am coming to hate sin (especially my sin) so much more and striving to get as far as I can from it and as close to God as possible.
· Checkpoint – As Christians in this sinful world today, we should be seeing more sin to hate; striving to be just like Christ, abstaining even from the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
The Cross:
Romans 6:23 tells me that I deserve death. Sin leads to death; I have sinned; therefore, I have earned death. That’s how much God hates it y’all. Everyone who sins clearly deserves death. God had the right to give us all death (Here’s where my title, Humbled, comes into play)..
..But He didn’t! Many of you reading this probably already know all this, but guys let it sink in. God hates sin SO much, but He loves us (the ones who have sinned) SO much more that He sent His only Son, His Beloved, the sinless One to take OUR place by death on a cross, our cross, my cross. He did it willingly!! WOW, I am in tears writing this, humbled by God’s unfailing love toward us, the very ones who murdered His perfect Son. Please, at this point, take a second, pause reading and thank God for the Gospel. Thank God for His unfailing love and forgiveness for you. And if you are not a Christian please, I beg of you, repent of your sin and turn to the Cross for forgiveness!
Okay, so now back to my question. Guys, if we are calling ourselves followers of Christ, let’s live it right. If we continually remind ourselves of the Gospel like I just poured out to you, this should make it so much more worth it and easier to overcome sin. The cross was the price paid for our sin. OUR SIN KILLED CHRIST! Yet, so many seem to laugh at sin, laugh at the very thing that crucified our Savior. If Christians do this, no wonder unbelievers do.
Christians we’ve got to step it up and stop playing around with sin. We’ve got to humbly remind ourselves the price that was paid for us as undeserving sinners. We should hate the sin that killed Christ and strive to humbly lead a life that draws others to the cross. There is a lost and dying world out there and we should be sharing this Gospel we believe with everyone, instead of getting caught up in sinful desires and earthly pleasures. We don’t have time to waste y’all! This world has nothing to offer us, BUT the cross offers us everything!
On My Cross – FFH
How wide is Your love that You would stretch Your arms,
And go around the world and why for me would a Savior's cry be heard?
And go around the world and why for me would a Savior's cry be heard?
I don't know why You went where I was meant to go.
I don't know why You love me so.
I don't know why You love me so.
Those were my nails. That was my crown.
That pierced Your hands and Your brow.
Those were my thorns. Those were my scorns.
Those were my tears that fell down.
And just as You said it would be, You did it all for me.
That pierced Your hands and Your brow.
Those were my thorns. Those were my scorns.
Those were my tears that fell down.
And just as You said it would be, You did it all for me.
After You counted the cost,
You took my shame, my blame on my cross.
You took my shame, my blame on my cross.
How deep is Your grace that You could see my need,
And choose to take my place and then for me, these words I'd hear You say –
And choose to take my place and then for me, these words I'd hear You say –
Father no, forgive them for they know not what they do.
I will go because I love them so.
I will go because I love them so.
Those were my nails. That was my crown.
That pierced Your hands and Your brow.
Those were my thorns. Those were my scorns.
Those were my tears that fell down.
And just as You said it would be, You did it all for me.
That pierced Your hands and Your brow.
Those were my thorns. Those were my scorns.
Those were my tears that fell down.
And just as You said it would be, You did it all for me.
After You counted the cost,
You took my shame, my blame on my cross.
You took my shame, my blame on my cross.
