Daily Nuggets of Grace Part 3 Innocent!ናሙና

What Do We Do When We Sin?

Does it matter if we sin? This is a natural question when we fully grasp the complete forgiveness of our sin in Christ. If Jesus paid it all, what happens when we sin? Does it even matter?

If a young person consistently disobeys his parents despite repeated warnings and multiple chances, what happens?

First, the relationship is unchanged. The parents are still the parents and this youth, though disobedient, is still their child. Though the relationship is secure, the fellowship becomes stressed. There is tension, silence, and unpleasant emotions as the son pulls back. There is a barrier to their fellowship until attitude and behavior change.

It is the same in our relationship with God. Once He adopts us into His family, we are forever His relatives, by the blood of Jesus. Our forgiveness is complete. Our status as God’s children is secure.

However, patterns of unconfessed sin hinder our fellowship with our Father. Sin disrupts our experience of communion with our heavenly Dad.

If that is you, how can you renew that fellowship with your Father? First John tells you to confess your sin. That means to speak it out to God, acknowledging the wrongs you have done. He is faithful to forgive you and wash you clean. James 5 takes it a step further: confess your sin to someone else. Doing this helps to break the power of that sin in your life.

Remember to decipher God's conviction from the enemy's condemnation. Our God woos us back through grace, reminding us that we belong to Him!

Then, agree with Him that you did it and that it was wrong. Don’t make excuses for your sin.

Finally, by faith, thank God for his forgiveness and power to make godly choices.

Reflect and Respond

There is a superpower for healing which the body of Christ often neglects. God meant for us to be a living, breathing body, a community where people regularly confess sin patterns to each other in a safe environment where others respond with grace and pray for each other. Identify someone with whom you can share your sin struggles. Doing this will help you break free from sin’s grip.

Pray

God, thank you for forgiving me. I know that You want me to live wholeheartedly for You.
Give me the courage to confess my sin to someone (named in the reflection) so I can break sin’s bondages and experience Your healing grace.

Enjoy the words from this hymn!

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains.

Ever since by faith, I saw the stream

Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme,

And shall be till I die.

To continue the deep dive into God's marvelous grace, click Daily Nuggets of Grace Part 4 Victorious! for the next devtional.

If you enjoyed this reading plan, you’ll love the Grace Course. It will help you connect with the grace of God in your heart, not just your head. You can check it out here.