Welcome!
Today: From “Hall of fame” to “Hall of shame”
Passage: Ephesians 5
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (Ephesians 5, NIV) – emphasis added
In the beginning was the word; the word was with God; the word was God
The word of God tells us how God looks at sin. Sin is serious
God forgives. But that does not make sin any lighter
If a person makes a traffic violation for the first time, the judge may give a break. The punishment may not be that severe
But, if the same is repeated, the punishment will be stronger than the first. The third time, the person may even loose the license!
God’s forgiveness is not a license to sin, nor does it reduce the seriousness of the act. The closer we are to God, the (more) serious the punishment!
David was a man after God’s heart. So, when David sinned, the punishment was also serious. People who have no connection with God may do the same thing and may not get much punished because their name is not in God’s book any way!
Two types of actions are demanded from the child of God, towards the acts of darkness, in the verses mentioned above
- Have nothing to do with them 2. Expose them
Satan is very tricky. We don’t hear much preaching, exposing the deeds of darkness. But the Bible clearly exposes them
The Bible tells us about the different categories of sin and warns us to stay away from them, so that no one can say, “I didn’t know that was sin”
When a church/nation takes sin light, God stays away from them. Works of God will not be revealed in such churches. It will just be a gathering, and even become like a club. Most Churches are O.K with that(!)
It is the duty of the Church to show/remind the people what God expects from them. The leader of a nation/Church may have their own perspective about things/issues. But when rules are implemented in the nation/Church, God is watching. God has the true ownership. He will hold them accountable
Many Churches and nations have shifted from God’s “Hall of fame” list to “Hall of shame” list, I think
Let us find out what pleases the Lord, and just do it!
God bless you
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to take sin as serious as you take it. I pray for my family, my Church, my city, state and the nation to have their eyes open to the fact of the seriousness of sin, like Nineveh, and repent. Amen.
“The seriousness of sin is decided by God the judge, not the church or nation”