Lenten Word 16: Sin

Those old enough to remember the comedian Flip Wilson and the time he had a variety show will remember his character Geraldine Jones, who was really Flip himself wearing a dress and a wig. She loved to say, "What you see is what you get," and more importantly, the one that made our household roar, "The devil made me do it!" Sin is the aftermath of a visit by the devil and our willingness to let him in and our consenting to do what was offered to us. Sin comes only when we say yes to it. We cannot blame anyone other than ourselves. But it's as old as Adam and Eve, when Adam tried to blame Eve for his own sin.

Sin is missing the mark of God's expected behavior and life as shared with us through God's teaching throughout the Bible and especially through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son. Sin is like a deadly disease that makes its way into our spirit and slowly kills us. James, the brother of Jesus, in the first chapter of his letter writes this, "13 No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved."

The evil in our lives does not come from God, so we cannot say, "This is God's fault." It is our own desires that invite evil in; we let it lure us and entice us, and if we're not careful that desire can conceive with that evil and give birth to sin, and as James says, "And that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death."

Our Lenten Journey should be leading us toward God and away from sin. Jesus came to pay the price for our sinfulness on the cross. If we confess our sins, Jesus forgives us and shares with us life, and that in abundance. (John 10:10).

PRAYER: God of life and that in abundance, I ask forgiveness of my sins and I repent of them. Lead me to the life You offer to me. I want to hit the mark and not miss it. I want to have life and love in my life, not what sin brings. This I ask in the Name of He who died for me, Jesus my Lord, amen.