Little Sins

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Be good, flee evil—and live! Then the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will truly be your Helper, as you have claimed he is. Hate evil and love the good; remodel your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Hosts will have mercy on his people who remain. Amos 5:14-15

The God we serve is a God of justice.  Yes, He loves us.  Yes, he cares for us.  Yes, he is our protector and comforter.  But He is also our Judge, even and especially for those saved by His grace.  It is easy enough to look upon people who commit terrible acts of murder, child rape and abuse and evil of every kind and accept that they will reap the consequences, but it is less appealing to realize that even though we are saved and forgiven, our sin causes negative consequences, as well.

The Bible is an instruction book for this life.  If it says do not gossip, it means that we are benefited by not doing so.  When it says do all things without grumbling or complaining, again it is to our benefit to do so.  Pray without ceasing?  Yup, definitely in our best interest, but how often is it our last action in a crisis, rather than the first?   And love!  Think of what it tells us love is!  It is kind, it is cheerful, it is never jealous or boastful or proud, and it always puts others first! Oh, how the contention in our very own churches is evidence of the lack of Christian obedience to these 'little' things!

And there are consequences to these 'little' neglectful sins.  When we wear our Christian labels in our places of work, and especially in our homes, and then gossip about co-workers and grumble about our bosses, what does that tell those that are searching but haven't found Christ?  When we're rude to cashiers and waitresses because of our own impatience or their lack of perfection, do we really think telling them to have a blessed day when we leave their presence is going to make them desire the presence of Christ?  

It will be interesting to see, when we all arrive in the land of glory, how many 'little' sins laid the foundation for the big ones.  How many murderers, thieves and rapists became the 'big' sinners because the Christians they encountered throughout their lives were hearers of the Word and not doers. (James 1:22)

God says His people perish for lack of knowledge.  Not a knowledge of worldly facts and figures, but a knowledge of His Word and wisdom.  He says if we love Him, we obey Him.  If we're hearing his Word on Sunday's, reading it in our daily devotionals, and then failing to actually obey it, we're failing at His command to love Him and others.  There will be negative consequences for our 'little' sin, the only question is whether they will affect us, or the others we encounter throughout the day.  

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