There are times in our lives when we sin without thinking, like when I see a Ford Escape drive by me on the freeway and I covet it. Or when I stuff myself with just one more slice of pizza even though I am full. I sin. Or when I do not do what God wants me to do and I know I should have done it. I sin. Oh, but those are small sins, aren’t they? They are not important. Right?
Wrong! All sin is sin. God does not look on one sin as greater than or less than the others. To Him all sin is sin. We all are sinners.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in human flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4.So why bother? Why do we try to be good if we are all sinners? God has given us His grace and mercy and this has made it possible for us to ask for forgiveness anytime, any day, anywhere we are. That doesn’t mean we should go and sin and then ask for forgiveness just because we know that we can. Paul talks about that in Romans 8 and 9. We need to be careful that we are not dominated by our sinful nature but instead that we dominate it.
How can we dominate our sinful nature? You can probably guess my answer; get in His Word and pray. Get in God’s presence every day and you will lose the desire to sin.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate (think) on these things. Philippians 4:8Fill your heart and mind with the right things to "think on" and you will lose the desire to covet what someone else has. Count your blessings; literally name them off when you feel like complaining or murmuring about how rotten life is. After all, when we go through tough situations we are learning to deal with things, we are building character. Changing our stinking thinking to a sweet smelling savor pleasing and acceptable to God the Father will indeed make our focus off of the desire to sin, and onto being the person He wants us to become.
Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18We really need to know Him to know the peace that passes understanding. Only when we are controlling our sinful nature, with the Holy Spirit to guide us can we truly please Him. We cannot control it ourselves either, the only way we can control the sinful man is with the Spirit of God.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. James 1:22-24Study the Word, do the Word, live the Word, walk in His Word.
Dear Heavenly Father, Help us today to focus our thoughts on you. Help us to do your will in our lives, in our hearts even, not our own selfish desires. Help us to truly make your desire the desire of our hearts. In Jesus' name, amen.
Suggested readings: Romans 8:all, Romans 9:all, Philippians 4:all, Psalm 37:40 and Matthew 6:1-21.