Your Sin Remains

"Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'we see,' your sin remains.'" - John 9:41

From the time we learn to walk and talk, our parents teach us what is right and wrong. We're not supposed to lie, cheat, steal, hurt others, etc. It's really not as simple, though, as we get older, is it? Suddenly, those things that we learned we're not supposed to do, become things that aren't that big of a deal to do. Things we tell our friends about, but would never tell our parents. Because all of our friends do it, and the people we watch on tv, it becomes the norm and then it's not necessarily bad.

Well, wrong is wrong, no matter how many people commit the sin. Think about certain things in your life where you are committing a sin, but don't feel it's so bad, although you are very well aware it is a sin. I feel this is part of Jesus' message to the Pharisees. As teachers of the law, they had very clear definitions of what everything meant. They knew the law from A to Z, and yet, they were the worst sinners Jesus ever encountered! The Lord's mercy knows no end, but it will not get you off the hook for doing something you know for a fact you're not supposed to be doing! The Pharisees said they could see, meaning they understood and since they understood, they could not be forgiven. Those who do not know the law could never be held accountable for the sins they commit, since they do not see. In the same way, you, if you know what is wrong, and you do it anyway, your sin remains. This is the type of sin that ruins your relationship with God. It separates you from God's grace, making it hard for your soul to find its way back. That's why those deep in sin keep falling and have a tough time recovering. Never carry this type of burden around. It's a dead, needless weight and only leads to more sin and death.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I see but am actually blind to many sins I carry. Give me the strength to do away with what disappoints You, what my conscience tells me that is clearly wrong, but I find myself doing anyway. I know all things are possible with You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Adjust Your Light

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead it is put on a lamp stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do and praise your Father in Heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

My boss just got those transition lenses. When he goes outside the lenses darken to protect his eyes and when he goes back inside they lighten up. The sun only knows how to burn brightly with no regard as to whether it's burning us or not giving us enough heat. Imagine if it knew we were cold in the winter and it exerted just enough energy to keep us toasty, or if during a July heat wave it would back off a bit so we could cool down. Sometimes we can be like the sun and not know how to adjust the light of God in us. Each of us has the ability to burn hot and brightly, but that doesn't mean we must go around on full blast, preaching about Jesus to the point where people tune us out. That's when people put on sun glasses to block us, right? Or, on the other hand, are we ever so dim that people around us interpret us as cold hearted? Are we like the sun during winter that sees the need for warmth in the people on the street and not do a thing to comfort them? If you're burning too brightly or not burning at all, you need to adjust your light.

Jesus is the light of the world, the Son of God who came and provided the exact level of light each of us needed. His light comforted the sick, the poor, those whose faith needed repairing. His light also rebuked the high and mighty, giving them the message they needed to hear. In our lives, if we let Him, Jesus is that perfect amount of light that warms us and, like flowers, helps us grow, without ever burning us. You must do the same in your lives. Adjust your light and burn brightly when someone around you needs warmth. Show others the light of Christ that lives in you.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for lighting up my soul and allowing me to be a guide for others. Help me to recognize how brightly I should burn for those You have put in my path. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Light In The Darkness

"Whatever has come to be, found life in Him, life which for humans was also light. Light that shines in the dark: light that darkness could not overcome." - John 1:4-5

Unfortunately, we all know sadness and depression first had. We know how sin can creep in and poison us. The moment we allow one sin to enter our lives, others lurk around the corner waiting for their turn to go in. What was once bright and clear went getting murkier and darker. Do you ever feel like this about yourself? Do you ever feel that your soul has become poisoned due to all of the things you shouldn't have done, things you shouldn't have let in? That is the darkness in our souls, the darkness Christ was born to overcome.

Jesus Christ is life, is light. He is cleansing and pure. In your darkness, do you feel you need this purity? Only Jesus can offer it to you. What I love about this verse is that it said that Jesus is light that the darkness could not overcome, meaning that no matter how dirty, dusty, or filthy your soul is right now, the victory already belongs to Christ because He already overcame the evil. Jesus is power that the evil in this world could not overcome and He wants to offer you that light as well. Like when you clean a house and open the curtains to see clearly, let the light expose you and all the sin, sadness and despair you hold within you. Let the bad come to the light so that you can receive healing and the darkness will go away. Fix your eyes on Jesus and you will live with the light of the Lord within you.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, shine Your light within me and cast away all evil, all hurt, anything that does not come from You Darkness can not overcome and in Your Name I refuse to let it overcome me. Be with me Lord as I seek to find life in You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

In The Beginning

"In the beginning, when God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth had no form and was void; darkness was over the deep and the Spirit of God hovered over the water." - Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning stages of our relationship with God, we have no shape and the life we think we have is actually empty and dark. Things like friends, money, parties, clothes, drinks, fill us up temporarily but what do you have when the party is over and you're alone again? The thing about us all, whether we care to acknowledge it or not, is that we all need God in order to be fulfilled. Our souls were created by Him and only with Him can we ever feel completion and rest. When we go about without Him, the Spirit of God hovers around us. As far from God as we get, He will always put something or someone in our path to remind us that He is there. The passage says He hovers over the water. He hovers like an eagle who flies over her young; she doesn't get too close, she doesn't interfere, but she watches closely by and the second her baby is in danger, she's there to scoop it up as God is always there for you.

Let Him begin His work in you, form you and chase out the darkness with His light. Let Him fill you with life so that you will no longer be void, dark, and empty.

Today's Prayer:
My God, thank You for looking out for me, especially in those moments when I'm too busy to even remember who You are. I know You respect my will but right now I want to give You permission to always, always remind me, even in a harsh way, that You are all I need. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

The Truth Hurts

"Do not think that I have come to establish peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father and daughter against her mother; a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Each one will have as enemies those of one's own family." - Matthew 10:34-36

This really does not sound like something Jesus would say, but it is. It goes along with what I said yesterday about the difference between believers and those that live in the world. Jesus came to bring a sword and division within our families because if we respond to His call to righteousness, then it is our job to do what's right and set an example for those around us. But many times, those within our own families do not believe and mock us. Or, you see those in your family commit sins and they don't want to hear you correct them. I was listening to a Christian radio station yesterday and a man called up to say he was converting to Christianity but his wife refused to convert and said she would divorce him if he converted.

These are the divisions that sprout up when we choose to follow Christ but we have to continue to imitate Him no matter what. Jesus wasn't popular with a lot of people because He always told the truth to those He loved. He spoke out against hate, against prostitution, against storing riches, against all the sins people were commiting even though they didn't want to hear it, and that's what He needs us to do within our own families. Remember, you are the light and salt of the earth and need to shine. Unfortunately, the truth hurts, but if you pray and stay firm in Him, He will guide you to do what's right, starting within your own family.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I know You call me to tell others within my own family what they need to hear. It's not always easy Lord, but please help me to be the light You need me to be and turn those closest to me back to You. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Salt And Light

"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? It has become useless. It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it. You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead it is put on a lampstand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do and praise your Father in Heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16

What do you think people think of you? Do they know you believe in God? Can you say that by your actions and words you uphold the teachings of Jesus Christ? Do you realize that just by saying you're not sure if you believe in God or that God doesn't answer you, you encourage the doubt in others? Jesus says you are the salt of the earth because just as salt preserves food, you are called to preserve the faith of others. If by what you do, you lead someone who looks up to you to falter, you are risking your salvation. Your words to people and how you choose to act have more weight than you think; be careful if you allow others to sin because of you. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says that if you cause someone to stumble and fall, it would be better for you to be thrown into the depths of the sea with a great stone around your neck, so make sure all you do preserves the faith of those watching you.

You are the light of the world. You are not called to believe in God and hide that faith. By hiding it, you're wasting it and the salt will lose its taste. On the contrary, if you believe you must shine bright so that others will know of your God through you. All your words and your actions must be one with the will of God. This isn't a choice for a believer of God, this is your calling and what you must strive to do everyday, one act at a time, one person at a time. If you cause someone to fall, you will be severely punished but according to James 5:20, if you bring just one person to God, you will have eternal life and forgiveness of many sins.

Your path is quite clear. Either you choose to be the salt and light of the world, or you choose to perish.

Today's Prayer:
God, thank You for clearly laying out the path before me. I accept the challenge of being the salt and light of the world, encouraging and bringing people to You with my words and actions. Give me strength to face all trials Lord as I try to stay firm in Your Ways. In Your Name we pray, Amen.