I Am A Sinner

My biggest concern when I realized that I wanted to use my blog to spread the love of God, was that people would be more annoyed than feel excitement and wonder for our Lord. This was a concern because I did not want people to think, "here's another hypocrite", or that I am uptight, too preachy, judgmental, etc. I understand that this can be the outlook on some Christians these days. In order for my goal and purpose to be achieved through blogging, and for you as readers to enjoy my blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I feel like I need to take a step back and say, yes, I am a sinner. I have fallen and sinned. In fact, that's a daily event for me. I do not think that I am better than anyone else. I sure do not have room to speak when it comes to avoiding sin. Sin is not just a past tense verb for me, but a present and future. So, when I write, know that if anything, it is either experience talking or a hope that someday I will master a few skills and be a little bit better at avoiding sin. Truth is, I will sin. I will mess up. Paul tells us in Romans that we can expect to sin, "For I know that in me (that is my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now, if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me" Romans 7:18-20, NKJV. Not only do I know that I am a sinner, even when I do not want to, but God does too. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:2,3 NKJV (emphasis added). The word all applies to me.  It is for that purpose that God sent Jesus. "He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public--to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured" Romans 3:24-25, MSG. 

So know, that I write not because I think I am better or more knowledgeable  it is because I am just like every other human being here. 

The only person who was ever able to live the life we do and approach his death without sin, was Jesus. "...because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth" 1 Peter 2:21-22, ESV. Just because He is Jesus, does not mean he had an easier life than us and succeeded in not sinning, for we are told "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet  without sin" Hebrews 4:15. Not only from Hebrews are we reassured that Jesus was tested just like we ARE, but he sympathizes with us. Jesus knows what we are going through. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes Sympathy as "the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another". Jesus, shares our feelings when we are tempted. When sin is after us, Jesus knows what we are going through because he has been in our shoes. Jesus, however, is the only person that can defeat sin, if we could, we would not need Jesus. If we could, why would we strive to worship and follow God? Merriam-Webster dictionary describes a god as being "the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe". If we could achieve what God and Jesus did, we would all be gods. But we are not. We are not capable of Jesus. That is why we are to strive to follow Jesus' example, and when we fall short, we are to repent to a sympathizing Lord who forgives us (Acts 3:19).

My point is not to point fingers and condemn. My point is to say everything I write, applies to ME as well. I am guilty. I have a constant line of prayer open with my sympathizing Lord, asking his forgiveness for when I fall short. I just ask that my fellow brothers, sisters, and those throughout the world join me in finding the comfort Jesus has to give us when we sin (Psalms 147:5). My life journey is not one that I set apart from others. It is not one that I think is holier or better. It is one that is to be joined with yours, for I am not better, I am human. I am a sinner. I am a child of God (John 1:12).