Is Sin Really a Big Deal? Part 2: Sin’s Consequences

Background Passage: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:16-19, 24

16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you. 17 And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust." 24 He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.

I Don’t Want To Deal With That

When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, their first instinct was to run and hide. They said it was because they knew they were naked. Their eyes had been opened. They were sinners now and they knew it. They were ashamed so they hid. Maybe it was in part because they knew they had let God down. Maybe it was in part because they knew there would be consequences for their disobedience and they didn’t want to face Him.

Reliant K sings,
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is

Consequences, 
Oh God, don't make me face up to this

Cause I know that I let you down, 
And I don't want to deal with that

What do we do when we’re confronted with our own sin? Do we run and hide? Why? Do we try to come up with excuses or alibis? Do we hate our sin or just the trouble it gets us into? God eventually found Adam and Eve. He finds us too. We’re never far from reach and no matter how much we loathe them, consequences are a reality when it comes to sin. If we know this, then why not respond to our sin in ways we know to be healthy. Rather than run, we should confess. Rather than hide, we should admit our mistake and accept the consequences that accompany our actions. After all, consequences are a good thing. They serve as the lessons and reminders not to make the same mistakes again and again.

What have been the consequences of sin in your life? How have you accepted those and learned from your own mistakes?

Is Sin Really a Big Deal? Part 1: Sin Defined

Background Passage: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-6

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden '?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die. ' " 4 "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate [it]; she also gave [some] to her husband, [who was] with her, and he ate [it].

Smoking Kills

I’ve only been to Germany one time and it doesn’t really count. Sitting in the Frankfurt airport for six hours doesn’t really give one bragging rights to time spent in grand Deutschland. The Frankfurt airport, like any good international airport, provides globe-trotting jet setters with many a shopping opportunity. I found myself there in the international terminal browsing Duty Free passing time until my flight home. I noticed bulk cases of cigarettes in sizes I had never seen before. Let me say here that I am not a smoker and don’t really encounter retail cigarettes very often, meaning that these cases may be as common as a cold, but nonetheless new to me. It was only a moment before I noticed the special labeling on the outside of each of the bulk boxes. In large print, these words were scribed:

SMOKING KILLS.
SMOKING IS HARMFUL TO YOU AND OTHERS AROUND YOU.

This labeling was different than any Surgeon General warning you would find on individual packaging in the US. While the size and font did catch my eye, I was more caught up in the content. It was certainly of no shock to me to realize that smoking kills and is harmful to you and others around you. The surprise came and continues to come in the form of the following: How can we as people know something is bad for us and do it anyway? That’s a question we can ask about all sin. “Believers, why do we continue marring our life with things we know full well to be harmful, not only to us, but to others around us?”

Maybe it’s because we, like Adam and Eve, choose to believe some of the lies the evil one tells us about sin. (We won’t die; our eyes will be opened; we will be like God.) He is after all as scripture describes, very cunning. Maybe it’s because sin (like smoking) is habit forming. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:19, “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” Sin is an attitude of rebellion towards God and we do it even though we know it’s harmful to us and others around us. We do it even though we don’t want to. We do it because we want to believe the evil one’s lies and because we can’t help ourselves. Thank goodness we have a Savior who forgives our rebellious nature and connects us to God in spite of our sin.

What are the areas of sin where you struggle most? What truths about your own behavior do you need to believe? How can you rely on God’s power to kick nasty sin habits?

The Case for God’s Involvement Part Three: God Incarnate

Background Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
Today’s Focal Passage: Philippians 2:5-11

5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Attitude Adjustment

One of the great things about having kids (and I am convinced that God has designed it like this) is that we learn some incredible spiritual lessons from our kids. When we, as parents, interact with our kids we often see much that is similar in our relationship as kids to our Heavenly Father.

Has this situation every occurred at your house (if not, that’s OK, I’ll own it): your son is running rampant around the house in a complete tear and just completely bent out of shape. He is going off on everyone and is just acting (dare we say it)…poopy!

So, what do you do? You sit him down and say something to the effect of: Young man, you need an attitude adjustment! (and then sometimes it was necessary to bring out the ‘attitude adjuster.’) But, what exactly does that mean? It means that currently your attitude is really bad. It is not something that I, as your parent, want to see exhibited in and through you. I want you to stop for a few minutes, think about how you are acting and feeling, and then change that attitude to something that is more pleasant.

In Philippians 2, Paul challenged us to have our own attitude adjustment. We are challenged to have the same type of attitude that Christ exhibited. So, what does that mean to you?

o What difference would it make in various parts of your work day if you were to have the mind of Christ?

o What difference would it make in your family if you were to have the mind of Christ?

o So, does God need to sit you down in order to help you change your attitude?

The Case for God’s Involvement Part Two: Personally Involved

Background Passage: Deuteronomy 8:2-5
Today’s Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 8:2-5

2 Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out, and your feet did not swell these 40 years. 5 Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

GPS

Personal GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) systems have been one of the hottest gift items for the past several years. Chances are you probably have at least one in your family right now.

GPS units are available as personal, portable units, battery-operated units (especially useful for geocaching), built-in units in new cars, and applications on your cellular phone. All of this technology is an incredible help for us men who would rather drive around lost for 30 minutes than stop and ask for directions. Now, thanks to GPS, we no longer have to stop to ask directions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with punching a few buttons in order to find your way!

Some folks just can’t imagine what it would be like to go back to the days without GPS. We become very accustomed to the guidance and direction that our little GPS unit provides to get us from point A to point B.

Long before Garmin®, TomTom®, Magellan®, and Google Maps, the Israelites found their own source of guidance in their very own GPS—God’s Positioning System. God faithfully led His people through all sorts of difficulties and experiences. Just as He did for them He wants to do for you.

Trust God this week to guide you. Pray and seek His guidance.

The Case for God’s Involvement Part One: Always with Us

Background Passage: Psalm 139:7-10
Today’s Focal Passage: Psalm 139:7-10

7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,
10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.

Hide and Seek

Playing Hide and Seek with your kids is one of the great joys in life. First of all, it is just fun to play with your kids. What makes the game so much fun, though, is when your kids try to hide in a place that is so obvious. They think you can’t see them and you play along as if you can’t see them—while all along you know exactly where they are at. In reality, especially when your kids are young, there is not any place they can hide that you can’t find them.

I remember one special occasion in which my son and I were playing Hide and Seek. When it was his turn to hide, he took off like a flash. I must admit, he really did have a good hiding place—except for the fact that his feet were sticking out from under the drapes! After looking for him for several minutes, I came about the corner and saw his feet. I burst out laughing and found myself rolling on the floor—all the while my son maintained his hiding place.

There is a spiritual analogy there too. We often think we can find a place where we can “hide” from God. The reality, however, is that there is no place that we can ever go that will be outside of the presence of God. He is everywhere we go, every where we might go, and everywhere we would even think of going. That is what it means when we say God is omnipresent—He is everywhere. God is also omniscient, which means He knows everything, so we can’t go anyplace that He would not know that we are there—and since He is omnipresent, He is already there anyway. (OK—that will make your head hurt.)

One of the things that we like about the game Hide and Seek is that we will always be found. (Think about it—would you enjoy the game if nobody ever found you or if they gave up looking for you?)

The Case for God’s Love Part Three: Good from Suffering

Background Passage: Romans 8:28-30
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 8:28-30

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

More Than You Know

I have some good friends whom I have known for almost 10 years. My first encounter with the family was with their older daughter who was on the soccer team I was coaching when my son was 8 years old. I got to know the mother and then recognized her when she started coming to church.

About two years after that first meeting, another daughter, 5 years old at the time, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Understandably, the family was devastated by the news. The mother, a Christian, expressed confident hope and trust in the Lord. The father, who was not a Christian, tried to cover the situation with alcohol.

I was able to be there, with our pastor, to pray for the family and to share the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. For a year, the family struggled with medical issues, surgery, and chemical therapy. In the midst of it all, the father fell helpless before the God who loved Him and sacrificed His only Son for him.

The tumor was removed and the cancer went into remission. The young girl developed and expressed a passion in worship. The family, as a whole, freely worshipped, served, and ministered in and through our church.

Near the young lady’s 13th birthday, the cancer reappeared and began to wreak havoc in her young body. The family made the decision to move to another city closer to the hospital treating her. Over the next 18 months, countless treatments and hospital visits were made. The family remained faithful to God and trusting Him and His plan.

Eight months after her 14th birthday, and after several strokes, the Lord took the young lady home to heaven. How many lives has this young lady already touched and changed (in addition to her father), and how many more will continue to be changed because of her faithfulness and passion for Jesus? More than we will ever know.

God doesn’t promise that everything we go through will be pleasant or that we will consider it “good.” What He does promise is that He will work all things—and work through all things—for His good and for His glory. I know one man whose eternal destiny is changed because of this young lady…make that two, if you count me.

The Case for God’s Love Part Two: Living for Eternity

Background Passage: Romans 8:18-21
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 8:18-21

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children

Dessert is Coming

I enjoy baking cakes. I don’t necessarily like the messy bowls, the flour on the counter, the eggs on my hands, or the dirty mixer, but I certainly like the end result. Who can resist a piece of warm chocolate cake with melty sour-cream icing dripping down the sides. (Got you drooling now, right?)

To get to the cake you have to endure the mess and the time it takes to get the batter mixed, cooked, cooled, and out of the pan.

Life right now is kind of like the getting-the-cake-ready stage. It can be enjoyable and it can be messy, but the end result is so worth it.

You may have heard the story about the old lady who wanted to be placed in her casket while holding a fork. She told the pastor to tell people who asked about the fork that she remembered all the church socials when the people would clear the main dinner plates and say, “Keep your fork.” That was her favorite part because she knew something better—dessert—was on its way. The pastor was to tell people that this life was only ushering in something better for the old lady—that is why she had a fork in her hands. (You can Google the entire story by searching for “fork in the casket”)

This present life is not worth comparing to the great eternity in heaven that God has planned for us. Live today with eternity in mind. Get your fork ready.

The Case for God's Love Part One: The Big Picture

Even in this world of suffering and evil, you can trust in God and his love for you. Commit this week to trust God to work in all situations for your good and for His glory.

Over the course of the week you will find the scripture and a brief devotion that goes along with next Sunday's lesson posted on this blog. I will try to keep them brief since most of us don't need another task to add to our to do list. I hope that each of you finds this to be helpful and useful as we prepare for next Sunday morning and life in general. Feel free to comment, give suggestions, and add any insight God lays on your heart.

Scripture For Today
Background Passage: Job 40:1-9
Today’s Focal Passage: Job 40:1-9

1 The Lord answered Job: 2 Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who argues with God give an answer.
3 Then Job answered the Lord: 4 I am so insignificant. How can I answer You? I place my hand over my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply; twice, but now I can add nothing.
6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 7 Get ready to answer Me like a man; When I question you, you will inform Me. 8 Would you really challenge My justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?

Because I’m the Daddy (or Momma), That’s Why

I know you have been there—after all, don’t all kids do this. You know, the constant “Why” questions. Eventually, we get to the point—even though we are trying to be accommodating and patient with our kids—when we just blurt out, “Because I’m the daddy, that’s why!” What we typically mean is that “I know more about this situation and my decision and you will just have to accept my decision.” We generally are not trying to be mean—we are just trying to put an end to the questioning.

It would seem logical to view this passage in the Book of Job from the same standpoint. Certainly, God would be within His right to say that. These verses, however, are more about pointing out the holy, unique, unequalled nature of God. All of the things in these verses and chapters of Job highlight the greatness and glory of God. (God’s reply to Job begins in chapter 38 and runs through chapter 41 with Job speaking only four sentences in 40:4-5.)

Way back in Job 31, Job questioned why he was in the situation in which he found himself. He had come to the point, as most of us would have, to begin to wonder, “Does God really love me? If so, why am I having to go through all of this?”

Natural questions. Really. God’s response, however, is a complete revelation to Job—and should be to us—of God’s great love for all people. When we look at the big picture, God is everything. Like Job, we really are insignificant in the grand scale of things.

In times of pain and suffering (like the disaster in Haiti below), we need to stop and realize that we don’t have the full picture. But we can rest in the assurance that God does. He is in control. He is sovereign. We can rest in that.