Devotion - Wednesday, March 4

"What ever happen to sin?"  A dear and faithful member of the congregation would bemoan to me (and the other pastors) that we did not often enough speak directly and openly about the realities of sin.

She was not wanting to belittle or to create undo anxiety in the lives of others; she understood that the only reason to turn to God for forgiveness was an awareness of our need for such.  The sin must be named before it can be addressed.

I am reading from the opening chapters of Jeremiah and the opening chapters of Romans.  Both speak of sin.  Both call upon the reader to remember how God's people have turned aside in the past and to avoid the same pitfalls in our own day.

We fail in so many ways to life up to the promises we have made to God.  We fail in so many ways to commend the faith within us.  We fail to be the persons God knows us to be and we desire to be.

As followers of Jesus we can admit our failings without fear that such an admission will be used against us.  As followers of Jesus we can admit our failings with the confidence that an open and honest evaluation of our lives will lead us to reconciliation and wholeness.

Nothing has happened to sin.  It is still with us and among us and in us.  So too is the promise of God and this sin will not separate us.