An Act of Rebellion

When I was younger, I learned that the word “sin” meant “missing the mark.” To explain this, I was given the illustration of a  target – where the bulls-eye was obedience;  sin therefore was anything outside of the bulls-eye.

While I do not doubt that the translation was correct, I think the illustration failed to convey the seriousness of sin to a holy God. If I am aiming for a target and hit outside of the bulls-eye, I can still make it onto the target. Perhaps it’s just because I’m not a gifted dart thrower, but if I make it anywhere on the board, I’m feeling pretty good about myself. Sure, I didn’t hit the bulls-eye but I almost did. I may be tempted to think the same with sin. However, there is no “almost” when it comes to obedience to God. We are either doing what He says or we aren’t.

Sin therefore, isn’t something that we casually brush aside, saying “Well at least I tried” as one might be tempted to do with a missed dartboard. Sin is a coup against God. As Stephen Neill statesevery evil word or act is a form of rebellion against Him” (The Christian Characterp. 117).  We aren’t just missing the target when we sin; we are offending a holy and righteous God. While we may be tempted to excuse our sin, just as I might blame the missed target on a poor throw or a sudden distraction, a rebellion is a volitional act.  And while we may prefer to see it differently, so is our sin.

When looking at the rebellions of history, it is easy to see that thee reason for them is that people were unhappy with their circumstances. They rebelled because they want their situations to be different than what they were. Their rebellion was their attempt at ceasing back control and changing the course of their lives.

So it is with our sin. As Neill goes on to state, “Why were you angry? You will probably find that it was because you were not willing to accept the world as God has made it; or because you were not willing to leave it to God to deal with the people He has made.” Sin is about seizing control. We want things the way that we want them and if we have to lie, cheat, gossip or slander in order to get that, than we will. Sin is a discontentment with how God is working.

This means that in order to sin less, we need to find our contentment in God alone. If we want to look more like Christ, than our prayer needs to echo His – “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).  In doing so, we squelch the rebellion. One act at a time.

 

 

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Jailed

We all have times where we feel like we are trapped.

Whether it’s  a painful moment,  a devastating diagnosis, or a prolonged trial, there are seasons where all we want is for God to intervene and change our circumstances. We want Him to reach down and remove us from the hurt.

And sometimes He does.

The Bible is replete with stories of God responding to people’s prayers by changing what’s going on around them.

The early disciples experienced this. . Twice, after being wrongfully incarcerated, God miraculously releases them from prison, first Peter and then Paul.  (Acts 12:6-17; Acts 16:16-24) . Twice, He intervenes to provide  relief.

But that didn’t happen every time.

Later, when Paul was jailed once again, God had him stay there. Not for a little while, but for two years.

Two years of restricted movement, of being a prisoner, of having limited freedoms.

Two years of being removed from his itinerant ministry, not able to visit and encourage the churches that were springing up.

Two years of jail.

Not because he deserved to be locked up, but because some people were jealous of him, and wanted him punished.

And he knew that God could release him. He had done it before. But this time He didn’t.

Yet that time in jail wasn’t wasted. During it, he wrote letters to the churches; letters that are still read today. He provided instruction of what it means to walk and grow in the Lord, even when he couldn’t be there to personally teach them. He encouraged them, even though it must have been so easy for him to get discouraged.

Paul must have realized something that’s important for us to realize too. God doesn’t always work the same way in our lives, but He’s always working.

Sometimes He removes us from the trial, sometimes He allows it to stay, but either way, He’s working through it, so that our circumstance, whether good or bad, brings Him praise.

We might feel trapped, locked up and unable to do anything. Thankfully, we can trust in the One Who is able to do everything. And whether we remain behind our figurative bars, or He works for our release, we can eagerly look forward for how He will use our circumstance – for His purposes… for His glory.

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