May 26 I Saturday

1 Chronicles 28-29

John 9:24-41

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.”  —Romans 2:5

We live in an age that highly values tolerance and acceptance. As a result, Christians and non-Christians alike have grown increasingly uncomfortable in the last few decades with talking about sin, the law and hell. Many believers today favour a message of the love and grace of God to avoid being seen as judgmental or self-righteous, but we do no one any favours when we diminish the gravity of sin. This only dilutes the message of the Gospel.

We must approach the topic of sin with patience and understanding. We know that all people are sinners, but condemnation is not the answer. Instead, we can point out that people know for themselves when they are doing something wrong. As Paul writes, “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15). This law written on our hearts serves as our conscience and acts as a siren to the soul, making us uneasy with wrongdoing.

It is difficult to talk with others about sin unless we are first honest with ourselves about our own sin. It can be tempting to call others out for being selfish, greedy or unkind, but there has to come a time when we accept responsibility for our own shortcomings. Our biggest problem is not our spouses, our jobs or our governments; it is that we have missed the mark, and though we want to do what is right, time and time again we do not do it. Being honest about our sin and our need for Christ produces humility within us. As people recognize this humility, it can open up opportunities to speak with them about how Christ has brought us peace.   

Though talking about sin is important, we must remember above all else that people need saving. The remedy for sin is Jesus, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin that we deserve. As Christians, we are called to be witnesses for Christ and letting others know what Jesus has done for us, but we leave it to the Holy Spirit to convict of guilt.  He is the one who “...will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). As we witness to others, the Spirit will make them more aware of their sin and how desperately they need our Saviour’s unwavering grace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the conviction of Your Spirit. I long to be an honest witness to Your truth, and may I be willing to share specifically with others how You have forgiven my sin and given me peace.