We’re using the summer to reflect on how Jesus’ resurrection transforms our lives and what we need to do to enjoy His fullness of life. Here is the fifth devotion that reminds us of sin’s debilitating impact on God’s design for our lives:

IN WORD What do you do with a law that (1) perfectly reflected the heart and character of God, and (2) was completely fulfilled by the only one who could do so? You can’t reject it; that would violate point one. And you can’t try to fulfill it without also claiming that the Savior’s work wasn’t sufficient. How do you live righteously in an economy of grace? Many Corinthians said righteousness wasn’t necessary anymore. All things were permissible, they said, because grace would cover it all anyway. And Paul never disagrees with them in his letter to that church. But he does qualify it; he redefines “permissible” for them.
The guideline for righteous Christian living is whether our behavior is beneficial to ourselves—in God’s eyes—or beneficial to others—also in God’s eyes. And if we look to God for the definition of what’s beneficial, we get something that looks a lot like the law. Many of today’s Christians view sin as the Corinthians did, seeing it as irrelevant. Our culture has told us that all things, even morality, are relative, and we’ve been influenced by the idea. We’ve also mistaken Jesus’ warnings against judging others as an excuse for not saying anything specific about sin at all. In the process, we’ve grown awfully casual about what’s right and wrong.
IN DEED The Bible is never casual about such things, not in the Old Testament or in the New. If we think grace means that sin no longer matters, we are as mistaken as the Corinthians were. It matters. A lot. What principles guide your life? Are you aware of them? You probably don’t slavishly follow the Old Testament law, but are you rigorous in your pursuit of God’s character? When we ask what is permissible, we are usually asking the wrong question. It’s better to ask what lines up with God’s heart and what is beneficial in His eyes. Pursue those answers zealously. “It is the great moment in our lives when we decide that sin must die right out.” — Oswald Chambers (in “God With Us” by Chris Tiegreen)

Many Christians harbor sin in their lives to a point that they rarely experience God’s blessings. It is like a water pipe that has been clogged with so much rust and sediment that the water coming out is but a trickle. If we want to enjoy the fullness of the abundant life God has planned for us, we need to rid ourselves of all sin, known and unknown.
Take time to reflect on the exhortations found in Hebrews 12 and 13. Use these chapters as a litmus test to discern where you are harboring actions and thoughts that are displeasing to God (this is what sin is), and ask the Holy Spirit to help you know how you can keep them from restricting God’s wonderful blessings and plans for you. Have a blessed week! - from Magnolia, Pastor Sam