Sin can be enticing and lead us to believe the devil’s lie that our sin isn’t really “that” bad.
And while some of us will tuck our hidden sin into a box or hide it in a corner, promising ourselves that we’ll deal with it “one day” – the brutal truth is, sin kills.
As Christians, we must not treat our sin like a pet and carry it around with us – we must slay it at the altar. Here’s how you do it.
To start, we must have humble hearts and confess our sins before God and one another.
God already knows our struggles and the sinful desires within our hearts – it’s why He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and pay the price for our sins.
But we are still called to have a repentant heart and confess our sins, knowing He is faithful to forgive us when we do.
However, you may wonder why the need to also share our sins with a brother or sister.
It’s simple – accountability.
We are not called to walk through this Christian life alone.
The body of Christ is meant to walk alongside one another and encourage each other to keep the faith and finish the race well.
And the truth is, all of us have our own “pet sin” that we carry – whether it be lust, greed, anger, anxiety, overspending, overeating, gossip, worry, rebellion, etc.
To overcome these sins, we need others to hold us accountable.
Of course, the goal is never to “shame” a person of their sin, but help them overcome it by the power of Jesus.
If you struggle with lust and pornography, do whatever you need to kill that sin. It may be as extreme as getting rid of the internet on your phone or even getting rid of your computer. Or, placing filters on your browsers and having a report of your browsing history sent to an accountability partner.
Have a spending problem?
Cut up your credit cards. Lower your spending limits. Close your accounts – whatever you have to do!
Other sins are more subtle, like anger or anxiety. Sometimes we give a pass to these sins – but lashing out at others or failing to trust God to provide for our daily needs are still sins.
The good news is, God doesn’t leave us alone to battle our “pet sins” – He promises to help us.
And while the devil will lie to you and have you only focus on the pleasure of the moment, make no mistake… unrepentant sin only leads to misery and death.
Sin will destroy you if you do not deal with it, so don’t wait until you lose everything in your life before you finally tackle the beast.
Take it to the cross, moment by moment, and ask God to give you the strength to overcome.
Consider writing out Scripture verses speaking God’s truth and hang them on your bathroom mirror or place them in your car.
One of my favorites is:
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” — 1 Corinthians 10:13
As Christians, we can go before Christ in our moments of weakness and He will meet us there.
Let us all take sin seriously in our lives. Take it to the cross and lay it at the altar, giving it to God and letting Him renew and restore our hearts.
He is able!
And finally, remember that you are not defined by your sins. As Christians, God has given us a new heart and are new creations in Christ.
Walk in that victory and don’t let the devil drag you down with your past sins. Once you confess it and bring it to God, move forward and claim your new identity in Christ.
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