I’m not a mathematician so these numbers boggled my mind. I had expected a higher percentage of success.
This led me to thinking about Christianity in the community. When we accept just a small amount of sin in our lives, then we represent the 1% of failure. Failure to trust God. Failure to glorify God. Failure to be living examples of Christ. We might think it’s a little sin. We might think it’s inconsequential, but sin – all sin – is abhorrent to God. And sin impacts the community in ways that can be devastating.
When we feel all warm and fuzzy over the 99% of good Christian living we are able to achieve though trusting our Lord, we are ignoring that 1%. But when we combine all of us together, as we must since we are one community, then that minor 1% on a personal level becomes a magnified failure in the community.
No wonder everything seems so broken in our society. No wonder we struggle and we suffer. It’s because we too often accept those “little” sins. We think they don’t have much of an impact. We don’t even notice them eating away at our peace.
So, the next time you feel that spark of pride begin to rule your thoughts and your actions, give it instantly to the Lord. And if it’s not pride, then ask Him to show you where your 1% of weakness lies. Ask the Lord to show you where you may have relaxed your vigil.
What are some of the things to keep you alert against sin in your life?
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9 comments:
Wow...what staggering numbers...no wonder the enemy is thrilled if he can get into one tiny part of our lives...
My two main alerts are a diminished prayer life and excuses that keep me from reading the Word...plus I get super cranky!
I agree with Karen...staggering!
Guess the old saying of "Give
the devil an inch and he'll
take a mile" is true!
I also notice I don't have the
desire to stay in the word as
much, as Karen said.
Yes, Sandy has it right. If you give the devil an inch he'll take a mile. He does not want us to pray for he knows that where the victory is won. He does not want us to stay in the Word for it is our shield.
I find if I start the day with prayer and reading of the Word the day is much easier.
Kind of that one step forward - two steps back analogy. God wants us to 'run our race with perseverance'.
The things that keep me alert against sin in my own life are consistently reading God's Word, daily communication with God, iron-sharpening friends and family, and the Holy Spirit's prompting and guidance.
Karen, It's amazing isn't it. And yes, your list of indicators is spot on.
Sandy, yes, a little thing becomes another little thing, becomes another, becomes a mile, becomes..and so forth.
Aliene, yes! and that's why we are asked to don the armour of God.
Deb, "iron-sharpening" friends and family. I love that term. And it is, along with everything else you listed, so right.
Yes, we should always be alert.
Proverbs 3:6 Acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your paths straight.
Frequent prayer and a prayerful attitude helps me. Relating God to everything in my life rather than finding pursuits that take me away from God helps me steer away from those ungodly pursuits.
Lee
Tossing It Out
A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump.
The word of God is my anchor. it's my mirror that I look into all the time. My desire is to walk the word of God and when I am not reading it, I feel like I have nothing to say, my words have no meaning, I can't pray because I pray the word of God. I can't imagine my life without it.
blessings,
Vickie
Lorena, that proverbs verse is so right.
Lee, prayer is crucial
Vickie, yes indeed. His words are what matter, not our words.
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