CORRECTION vs JUDGEMENT

It is becoming increasingly popular to say "do not judge". Even if I wholeheartedly agree, we tend to apply it as it suits our selfish purposes...!

My attention was turned to 1 Cor 5&6 this morning, and I realised with a start that the modern day "do not judge" can actually be translated as "everything goes". 😳

Obviously we are fooling ourselves into thinking we can manipulate God and His set standards, but it is also unfair toward ourselves to act this way!

We selfishly cling to certain forms of sin as a "I can't help it" necessity (be it alcoholism, drug abuse or sexual sin) expecting God to "understand" , while we are in reality depriving ourselves of the "life in abundance" Christ has promised to those who choose to follow Him.1cor 6:17-20 explains for example,that sexual immorality not only contaminates us but makes intimacy with the Holy Spirit impossible. You can't be sexually immoral AND live a spirit-filled life. It simply doesn't work that way... Living an unrighteous life by choice removes us from Grace, no matter how good, kind or sincere we are...!

If my words sound harsh, please hear me: As somebody who has been involved in an adulterous relationship many moons ago, I can fully identify with any sinner stuck in a "situation". I have utter compassion and understanding for homosexuals and do not JUDGE anybody in the sense of pointing fingers. BUT : it is our responsibility to correct each other IN LOVE.

Let's stop fooling ourselves... we can not have our bread buttered on both sides. We cannot have sin and God in the same space. Even Grace makes no allowance for that. If we choose to sin, we choose death.

"Jesus died so that we may be free from sin, not so that we can freely sin" (Kat Kerr)

I had to walk away from an adulterous relationship and it wasn't easy. I honestly loved the person! Yet I HAD TO - because it wasn't RIGHT. It boiled down to choosing between God and myself. Of course free will remains. You are entitled to remain in that wrong relationship, but then you HAVE to face and consider the eternal consequences.

I can assure you that my act of obedience was rewarded beyond words, even if I did not do it for the reward but simply because I can't live without God! And I still experience that unmerited blessing every time I walk away from sin.

Think about this: If Jesus had sinned as much as once, His sacrifice would have become useless. This makes His comprehension of our struggles all the more relevant! He knows what you need to choose to walk away from and the effort that it will demand of you . He will help you if you ask Him.

I want to encourage you to deal with that sin in your life TODAY! Why? Because of the verse that follows...

2 Chronicles 7:14King James Version (KJV) 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Don't we all need just that...?