April 14
Luke 16:19-17:10
How big of a deal is your sin? Do you think your sinful struggles are mere inconveniences, or are they terrible acts against the God of the universe? Often, we fail to understand the gravity of sin, and also the greater power of grace. Tim Keller summarized this by saying, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” We encounter the severity of sin through the plight of the “rich man.” Then Jesus speaks against those who cause people to sin by saying it would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck. Ouch! God takes sin very seriously, but do you?
Thankfully, the immensity of sin is not the end of the story. Those who have received God’s grace and forgiveness are called to extend the same to others. Forgiveness is not to say that sin is okay, but actually the opposite. To forgive something is to declare it to be wrong and unacceptable, but that you will not hold that act against the person forever. The response of the disciples to this call for forgiveness is to ask that Jesus might “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). When we have experienced God’s healing power over our sins, we should be quick to show this same love, grace, and mercy to others. Sin is great, but grace is greater.
Father God, thank you for your grace. Help me to rest in your forgiveness and give it to others. Amen.
How can we live in a way that shows grace is more powerful than sin?
How big of a deal is your sin? Do you think your sinful struggles are mere inconveniences, or are they terrible acts against the God of the universe? Often, we fail to understand the gravity of sin, and also the greater power of grace. Tim Keller summarized this by saying, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” We encounter the severity of sin through the plight of the “rich man.” Then Jesus speaks against those who cause people to sin by saying it would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck. Ouch! God takes sin very seriously, but do you?
Thankfully, the immensity of sin is not the end of the story. Those who have received God’s grace and forgiveness are called to extend the same to others. Forgiveness is not to say that sin is okay, but actually the opposite. To forgive something is to declare it to be wrong and unacceptable, but that you will not hold that act against the person forever. The response of the disciples to this call for forgiveness is to ask that Jesus might “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). When we have experienced God’s healing power over our sins, we should be quick to show this same love, grace, and mercy to others. Sin is great, but grace is greater.
Father God, thank you for your grace. Help me to rest in your forgiveness and give it to others. Amen.
How can we live in a way that shows grace is more powerful than sin?
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