by Chris Larson
When we come before the Lord, be it privately or in the corporate setting, and confess our sins to Him from the heart, that light of His marvelous grace shines upon that sin and exposes it for what it is, a stench in the nostrils of our God. The Lord in His mercy then relieves us of that burden, separating us from it, as far as the east is from the west is the separation between us and our confessed sin. The books are closed.
But how do we react when we see sin in others, what standard do we hold up to those around us who transgress and fall, or worse yet those who’ve sinned against us! Surely we don’t take the attitude of the evil servant in Matthew 18 who, once forgiven of much, refused to forgive his fellow servant of little. Surely we don’t scoff and get all put out as Jonah did, when God wants to show His great mercy to sinners. Do we read about our own faults in Jerry Bridges book- Respectable Sins, but the sins of others in Jonathan Edward’s- Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God? Of course we do! I do! I have. We love playing the role of judge, jury and executioner,… that is, until we retreat back to the Word with our morning coffee and the words of Paul in Galatians 6 jump off the page at us.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Colossians 3 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Ephesians 4 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Luke 6 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give (and may I insert BE MERCIFUL here), and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Let’s spend a few silent moments before the Lord and check ourselves, remembering those we know who are struggling in sin, whether believers or even unredeemed, and recall how it felt to be in that place, wandering in darkness, and then the elation we felt when God’s great light shone upon us and pulled us out of that miry pit, lifting our burdens and setting us free.
Heavenly Father, help us to always remember where we were before you demonstrated your great love for us, dying for us while we were yet your enemies. And in your mercy, you did not deal with us according to our sins or punish us according to our iniquities, for if you did Father, who could stand? For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is your mercy to those who fear you. We pray that you would help us to exhibit to others, the mercies you have bathed us in. Give us hearts of flesh that pour forth compassion to those who are still slaves to sin or are struggling in it. Father, help us to forgive as you forgave us, freely. We pray today for unity and cohesion in the body of Christ because we need each other, and we know that need will only increase in the coming days. As we are In Christ, help us to be like Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Romans 15 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.