A Pinch of Sin

Scripture: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

How do we measure sin? I think we do it by judging others. O how easy it is to look at someone else’s sin and make ourselves feel better about our own sin. I mean after all we are not cheating on “our” husband. I have not “intentionally” cheated on our taxes. I have never “killed” anyone for goodness sake. Never mind the fact that I judged all the people who have done these things either in private or in public by just a quick wave of the pen.

The beauty shops are full of sinners, just dying to tell what they just heard from their last cut and color. Does that make them awful? Yes! But then again we are awful. The bible says even our best is like filthy rags for goodness sake!

So how do we stop passing judgment and carrying it into gossip? First of all we must recognize that being able to simply see and identify sin itself is a gift from God. Without divine grace we aren’t capable of even knowing what is right and what is wrong. If you haven’t watch MTV since they played videos, you should try it sometime. The youth of today have no idea what is sin. Because everything is acceptable! If you know that the things you see going on around you are sinful, then the first thing you should do is stop and thank God for eyes to see right from wrong.

Secondly, you should purge your own heart. Begin to search your heart to find if you have committed that sin either in your mind or in an act against God or someone else. Lastly you should not talk to anyone else about that “fact.” Go to God on behalf of this person you believe is sinning and ask God to have mercy on them and turn them from darkness to light.

Spiritual sight is a gift. It is called discernment and should be used to build others up and set them free. If we use it like a salve to make us feel better about ourselves, then we have turned what God meant for good into a distorted tool that covers up sin instead of exposing it to bring healing.

Am I guilty? You better believe it! Lord have mercy on us all, sinners everyone!

Leslie Stephens
Winchester, TN

Prayer: Amazing God, before we were sorry you died for our sin. Give us eyes to see sin and turn from it. We want to lead others to the Savior. Amen!

Prayer Tip: Never exit a prayer time without asking God to reveal your sin and set you free.