How bad is sin? Seventy-thousand people died during a three-day pestilence because of one of David's less serious sins (2 Sm 24:15). The sin of disbelief in Jesus resulted in many staying sick and only a few being healed when Jesus visited His hometown (Mk 6:5). Sin is bad enough that God became a human being and died on the cross to save us from it. Sin is bad enough to condemn the unrepentant to hell and everlasting separation from God.
Because sin is so bad as to create hell, crucify God, and deprive and destroy millions of people, we should resist sin to the point of shedding our blood (Heb 12:4). If we still fall into sin, we should turn to Jesus and repent immediately. "He is an Offering for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for those of the whole world" (1 Jn 2:2). We should rejoice with all the saints and angels over one sinner who repents (Lk 15:7, 10). Because sin is so bad, resisting temptation and repenting are so good. Because sin is so bad, we can see that Jesus is so good and deserves all of our thanks, worship, obedience, and love forever. Don't treat God's gracious gift as pointless (Gal 2:21). Hate sin, love sinners, and worship Jesus, our Savior from sin.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I rejoice to bring my sins to the cross through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. |
| PROMISE: | "You are my Shelter; from distress You will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom You will ring me round." –Ps 32:7 |
| PRAISE: | "O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer!" (Ps 19:15) "I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart" (Ps 138:1). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College