July 14, 2008
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I “LOVE” to read… mostly books on Christian Living but I also enjoy a good missionary bio, too! The excerpt below is from Tim Challies website. I subscribed to his website because of his good book reviews. Occasionally, he will write something on a more personal note. I especially liked what he wrote this morning. I’ve been praying about how to respond to a particular sin in a loved one. I believe this was my answer although this is not the only answer God’s Word gives to responding to sin in a loved one. We find in scripture that we are exhorted to confront sin. Other exhortations in Proverbs warn us about rebuking mockers and fools. But, this can and should be the first response to sin… to look at our own hearts first and confess the sin we see there. You can read more from Tim on his website.
“This is just about my favorite time of day. The house is quiet and no one else awake. It allows me a few minutes to myself—time I use every day to read the Bible and pray. I know that in a few minutes the family will begin to stir. Nick and Abby will wake up and Michaela will not be far behind. It won’t be long before the quiet is punctuated by their childish squabbles over who gets to eat what or who gets to sit where. I can pretty well count on this.
A little bit after nine, we will head to church. Here we’ll enjoy a time of worship and fellowship with a group of our favorite people. Though we love them dearly, I’m quite sure we’ll see evidence of sin in their lives—we’ll hear people say things they shouldn’t say and see them do things they shouldn’t do. After church we’ll head to the home of some friends to spend the afternoon with them and, once again, I’m sure there will be plenty of evidence of sin in their lives and in ours. We’ll return to church in the late afternoon to once more hear a sinful brother preach what I’m sure will be an excellent but somehow-imperfect sermon. And after it all, we’ll head home. And as we do, you can be sure that there will be more sin, more fighting or complaining or temptation to say things that just have no business being said.
All day we will see the evidence of sin in others around us. It is inevitable, is it not? How are we to react to such sin? It is here that Jonathan Edwards offers a valuable resolution and one that I hope will be in my mind and on my heart as I see so much sin today. I trust that you will benefit from reading it and pondering it as well.
Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others, and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.”
Comments (7)
I discovered Tim’s web site recently and love his book reviews! I was looking for a review on “The Shack” and in that review he was able to say clearly the many things I was struggling to voice.
Thanks for your post today. I’m praying for you and all you have to accomplish with your move. “Strength Lord, give her strength….and smooth out any wrinkles in the details!” Blessings….Q.’
Good Morning Georgene…..I will have to check out that website.
What you said here is so true! I know my family is quick to point out my faults. Yet never thinking of their sins.
What I don’t understand is how come preachers can get behind the altar and preach very anointed messages yet there is still sin in their lives. Even the sin they are preaching against? You can see that the anointing is not full but yet this happens? And peoples lives are touched and changed still.
Thank you for this site.
God Bless You.
The Edwards’ quote is quite humbling, isn’t it! Thank you for sharing this.
Good post! I love reading devotionals and inspirational books too.. God bless!
Here lately it seems Edwards has an inside track to what needs dealt with in my life. Not more inside than what the Bible says, of course, but he is an excellent challenger and encourager of increasing holiness and godliness, directing me back to the Word to examine myself.
I so appreciate your post and his quote… and the challenge to my own life~
Edifying post! Amazing how God’s Spirit works simultaneously in His Body with the same teaching in different parts of the world. I, too, have been thinking about sin in others and myself, too this week. What’s even more amazing is God’s love toward each of one us. It’s hard to wrap our mind around the fact that no one is beyond redemption if we will receive His gift of mercy. If you can ever catch Stone Phillips’ interview on MSNBC with Jeffery Dahmer and his father, you will see the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ in action. Interestingly enough, his mother was also interviewed, but not alongside her son as his father was, and she was struggling with his sin, but also his redemption.
Thanks for sharing this Georgene, and may the peace of God be with you.
@QMTJ - I used the website for a review on The Shack, too. It was being sold at the bookstore where I worked and I had heard some big time warnings about it. Scarey book. I was amazed at how many purchased it and loved it. I’ve read many reviews that really warn against it.