Sin Destroys, but God Redeems

 Day 34:  Leviticus 8:1-10:20

Sin.  It's everywhere.  There doesn't seem to be a way to escape its grip.  It's powerful.  Controlling.  Satisfying, yet guilty when the sin has subsided and reality has taken its place.  Sin is nasty.  Hurtful.  Damaging.  Painful.  Homewrecker.  Murder.  Liar.  Adulterous.  Gossiper.  Hateful.  And, no respecter of persons.  

Sin destroys the best of us in the moments of weakness and vulnerability.  Sin captures our laziness in God and strengthens itself in the desires of our hearts that do not honor our Heavenly Father.  Sin moves with great speed, but once we are used up, it quickly vanishes, while leaving behind a path of destruction. 

Sin doesn't help us say no; rather, it reinforces our need to delve into the recklessness of our wrongful pursuits.  Sin is our enemy, but disguises itself as a friend who will help satisfy the cravings of the vulnerable heart.  

Who?  What? How can be sin forgiven?  For the Israelites, they would go to the Priest and offer a sin sacrifices in order to have their sins forgiven. (Leviticus 9:15-17)  It was God's redemptive plan to atone sins, but a plan so tedious, time consuming and yearly.  God had his reasons for it, but what about now?  How can we be forgiven?

We needed a Savior.  A sin taker, remover, destroyer.   John said, God loved the world so incredibly much, that he gave us his one and only Son (John 3:16),  So that, ... He will take away the sin of the world,"   John 1:29, at a time when were "helpless and sinful." Romans 5:6, because "God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us...." Romans 5:8

Because of Jesus and his sacrifice, sin's grip is only as strong as we allow it to be.  When the relationship with Jesus is right, the grip of sin loses it power and saying no to sin is much easier.  None of us will ever be perfect.  We will sin, but it doesn't have to hold us hostage.  Sin will be forgiven through our confessions, "But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away." 1st John 1:9

When temptation to sin is knocking, pray.  Say no to sin out loud.  Leave.  Turn off the computer.  Stop drinking.  Remove yourself from any situation that will take you down sin's road.  God has provide all that we need to get out of sin's grip. He has given us Jesus...Our hope. Grace.  Redeemer.  Forgiver.  

Remember, Be God Controlled!