Day 287

Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:51-62; John 7:1-8:20. “Awareness of Sin”

         F.B. Meyer has been credited with saying that “when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know.  First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.  And second, we do not know the power of the force that assailed him or her.  We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstance.”
         Judging someone in haste, and without full knowledge or consideration of the facts, generates tremendous hurt and damage.  Jesus knew this full well when He extended grace to the woman caught in adultery in John 8.
         Authentic Christian living requires an awareness of sin in our life.  I believe that the more aware we are of our sin and our propensity to repeatedly sin that we are less likely to judge others who are caught in sin.  It is those among us who assume that their struggle with sin is done that are often the ones who are so quick to judge.  We all must remember that we are all sinners who are equally in need of grace and mercy from a holy and just God.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?