Unpack This...Taking Sin SeriouslySample

Crossing The Line

NBA players are free to stand anywhere on the court, but they must always be aware of the boundaries so as not to catch the ball with their foot over the line and turn the ball over.

While spreading the floor on offense, players run the risk of getting too close to the out-of-bounds line, and in some games, it can prove to be costly.

When following Jesus, we're given boundaries of obedience to protect us and keep us from going out of bounds. But, while given the freedom to go anywhere on “the court,” we're also called to avoid sin.

Unfortunately, we too often flirt with sin and get as close to the line of disobedience as we can. Even though we think we can handle ourselves and not cross the line, we get careless and find ourselves out of bounds.

Although we should never get so close to the danger that we risk a "turnover," often our desire for sin causes us to keep inching closer and closer until we cross the line.

Instead of asking where the line is, we should be more concerned with where God is. We should want to be closer to Him rather than close to the line of sin.

Do we want to please God or ourselves? What is our motivation in inching up to the line...and where is our heart if that’s our mindset?

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Today, let’s be encouraged to remain in the “middle of the court,” centered on Jesus with a strong desire to please Him above all else. Let’s not hang around the out-of-bounds line, tiptoeing around sin, getting as close as we can, and thinking we’re not going to cross the line.

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14).

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace that covers me when I do cross the line, but I pray my motivation would be to avoid anything that gets me closer to sin. I desire to remain close to You and Your way. I know Your boundaries are for my good, and I pray I would remain within them. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

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