In the early 1980’s I took my 3 young boys with my sister-in-law and her 3 small boys to Baskin Robbins for ice cream.  There was a man,with a very large nose, eating ice cream with his wife.  Our children were laughing at him and we were too.  I cringe every time I think of what we did and what I allowed to occur.  Our children were so young.  I was the adult.  Some might think that I should let this go, because it happened so long ago.  But here is the thing, I knew what we were doing was wrong and I did not stop it.  I hurt another human being intentionally.  And there is sin.

Does a sin ever haunt you? It could be a sin of years ago or a sin you just committed.  We think of sin as having degrees, that some sin is worse than others.  And in our humanness that is true.  Hurting a child or a pet, or even a spouse in our eyes is an atrocity.  Sin is generally defined as the deliberate violation of, or transgression against God and what God has called us to do and to be.  

           It has been described as missing the mark of God’s standard, rebellion against His will, or falling short of what is right and true.  It is anything that separates us from God.  Synonyms include transgression, wrong doing, vice, offense, iniquity, immorality, felony, error, lawbreaking, misdoing, misconduct, wickedness, depravity, debauchery, or even unlawful to name a few.

           James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  

           Sin is sin.  We all sin. These scriptures remind us to actively purse doing good daily and when we make a mistake, when we sin, we are to confess and forgive ourselves as God forgives us.  Sometimes, I think that is the hardest part learning to forgive ourselves.  We must remember we are forgiven.  We are forgiven!  It is something to remember.  God Bless. Amen.

denise