Sin no more

You can picture it in this episode of The Chosen. The paralyzed man stands happily jumping on the feet that have just started doing it again. After 38 years. How special that must have been!

And the Pharisees keep asking him - questioning him. They seem less interested in the man's feet and more in who it was who healed him on the Sabbath and what all He said.

Then the man remembers that Jesus had said, "Sin no more, lest something worse happen to you."

If you reread this bit briefly in John's gospel you will see that this is about the moment Jesus encountered the man again, in the temple. Jesus then said, "Sin no more...".

In my own words: You are healed now, but something worse can happen to you than being paralyzed for 38 years. And that happens to you by sinning. Therefore, "Sin no more." Do you feel any of the weight that these words must have had for the paralyzed man? Could anything be worse than the past 38 years!

Sin is literally missing your mark, and if you are not living in relationship with Jesus then that is exactly what it is. Sin. Missing your mark. It sounds a little direct that way, but that's what it is. You were made to live in a relationship with God. Our aversion to God - our sin - gets in the way of that. Don't sin anymore! Turn toward Jesus! Look at Him.

Jesus' words give weight to this problem, including for you and me.

Back to the man for a moment. He had received a great gift - his legs were working again. His physical condition had improved tremendously, but what about his spiritual condition? The Bible says nothing about it, but we may take this question. What about your spiritual fitness? Are you missing your purpose, or are you living in relationship with the Person who gives your life fulfillment - purpose and direction?

That is His intention, even with you and me.

Take the following questions to think about:

• You were made to live in a relationship with God. Is that true for you? Have you already turned toward God?
• "Go and sin no more." What does that say about your life?
• Not sinning anymore, how do you do it?

Prayer: "Lord, in You is fulfillment to be found. In You I can find my purpose. In relationship with You I am complete. So often I live for other things, other purposes. I want to acknowledge and confess that. I turn to You again today. Take me by the hand Lord, give me direction, but above all let me see You today. Amen."