JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"The Truth About Sin"

Genesis 39:7-9  "And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, 'Lie with me.'  But he refused and said to his master’s wife, 'Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.  There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.  How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?'"

Proverb 14:9  "Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor."

Matthew 5:29, 30  "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."

Matthew 18:6  "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

John 16:7-11  "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

1 John 5:16-18  "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.  There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him."

Insight: Sinning against others is sinning against God.  We need to vehemently avoid sinning and causing others to sin.  The Holy Spirit will help us and convict us, so we can endeavor to live a sin-free life.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and keep us from sin.  Forgive our sins and make us like You.  Thank you for your patience with us, Lord.  There is no other like You.  Praise You for your mercy and grace.  Help us to take sin as seriously as You do.  Remind us that sin is not just against another person but also against You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

On January 13, 1888, The National Geographic Society was founded by John Wesley Powell and Friends. The original purpose was “for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge.” This goal has been carried out admirably. Unfortunately, the society’s publications and television programs also attempt to promote evolution at every opportunity. When one reads “between the lines,” however, it is the improper interpretation of data which leads to naturalism. Past society president Alexander Graham Bell once described geography as the study of “the world and all that is in it,” taking the phrase from Psalm 89:11.

This excerpt was taken from Donald DeYoung's book called, "365 Fascinating Facts From the World of Discovery."

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Dr. Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and gives over 4,000 answers to alleged Bible errors, regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

Sin and unbelief are serious issues with serious consequences.

One big difference between believers and non-believers is that believers have a desire to stop sinning and can call on the power of God to do so.

The Bible teaches us how sinful we have become, but Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit provide the power to overcome sin.

The Bible will keep one from sin or sin will keep one from the Bible.

The Jews were looking for a political Messiah, so they didn't understand the scriptures about the suffering Messiah that died for their sins.

Like a musician tunes an instrument before playing it, God is purifying us before using us for awesome things.

Going back to our sins is like a dog returning to its vomit and eating it.

It's possible for a fisherman to become very pure and even do miracles.

I've tried to sing your song before and it's wrong.

Sinning isn't simply doing wrong things. Sinning can be avoiding required things.

Just as Michelangelo said, "I'm chipping away the extra," when he sculpted, God is chipping away the sin from us.

Don't become lenient to sin.

After you're done chasing furies, come back to God.

If you don't confront their sin, it will afflict you.

Because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice, God forgets our sins.

Christ is an infinite person, so He made an infinite sacrifice for everyone's sins.

Jesus paid the full price for our sins and didn't take any anesthetics.

These quotes were taken from the chapter called "Sin" in Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"!  It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.