Sin is a loaded word. For those outside the faith, it’s a funny and dated religious term. For Christians, we repeat it so often that it loses its bite. Scripture reveals that sin is worse than we know. Jesus is so serious about it that he says, “If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out.” What is it about sin that’s so fatal it would require Jesus to go to the cross?
This Lent we do a soul examination, studying all the ways God describes the complex of sin. Lawlessness, adultery, rebellion . . . The cancerous nature of sin means that we need to go deeper than surface confession. The problem is worse than we know, which makes our Savior greater than we can imagine.
Invocation
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, who delivers us from all evil.
Invitation Prayer
Lord, you know the power of the evil foe. You endured his temptation in the wilderness for 40 days. Answer our prayer to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Keep us from the devil and his schemes. Guard us from the fiery arrows of satan. Grant us life by the power of our victorious King, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Word
Matthew 25:46
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Meditation: Falling Short by Anna Jacob
Sin feels isolating. It’s kind of the point. It is meant to separate us from God. And while it’s happening, it also puts us in an awkward position with the people around us.
We can feel lonely in our sin. Like we are the only ones struggling with it. But as the saying goes, misery loves company. Not only do we sin on our own, but as a people, we have almost perfected it. We continue to find new ways to sin. As the world evolves. As people change. We love to innovate new ways to take control, to find our own way, thinking that we can make a better way without God.
And that’s the result of sin. A life without God. And the scariest thing about that notion is thinking that that would be best. Thinking that we know better than God. That we’re better than him. But we’re not. We don’t even come close. Sin is not something we can conquer on our own. Sin is not something we can conquer as a community.
Starting to feel defeated? I know I do.
This week’s reading has me reflecting on the word despair. Over the last couple of years, I have found myself reaching points of frustration and failure. There have been moments I thought I could not accomplish a goal. Or there was a daunting task that did not seem like it would be completed in time. But most often the times I felt despair were when I felt I had too many things outside of my control.
When Jesus talks about the final judgment, I do not feel I have control. I know there are things that I fall short on. People I have failed to see. And even worse, people in need that I failed to help. There is still so much life to be lived, but I know that despite my best efforts I will continue to fall short.
Yet take heart, there’s good news!
God has reached into our imperfection, our sin, and found a way to redeem us in spite of it. Jesus’ perfect life and death on the cross ends with sin and death’s defeat. We are not alone because a God who loves us and knows us, has made a way for us. In his infinite wisdom and glory, God made a way into eternal life with him, free from sin. He saves us despite our attempts to shut him out. He is sovereign.
Dear Lord, I often fall short. I fail to see others around me. I choose my way. Help me to do better, not because I am good, but because you are the best. In your name I pray, Amen.
Sending
In the face of evil, may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.