30 Aug Is your hurt caused by your sin?
You have a pain threshold. There is a limit to the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional duress you can endure and remain healthy. You can feel when you have hit your limit. When this happens, it is wise to start by asking if the hurt is in any way, or to any degree, caused by your sin.
No one is perfect. We all have faults flaws and failures. Proverbs 20:9 [NIV] says it perfectly, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?” The answer to that question is obviously only Jesus Christ, and the rest of us need to examine our life to see if there is any wrong pattern of thinking and acting.
Sometimes we were foolish and just messed up. Other times, we are evil and chose rebellion to spite God. Proverbs 19:3 [ESV] says, “When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.” Did you catch this fact? A hurting man blames God rather than owning sin.
If we are honest, we all wind up walking or running down the wrong path. When this happens, God provides this gracious opportunity according to Proverbs 14:16 [ESV], “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.”
Turning away from evil and toward the Lord’s wisdom is repentance. Repentance includes the thoughts in your heart, feelings in your heart, and decisions of your hands.
Is there any sin in your life that is contributing to your hurting? What exactly do you need to do to turn away from evil?
