The Sin...

The Sin...8-1-25

We have three trees in our yard that my boys bought me for Mother's Day in 1998. One is a Boston Cherry, and two are Silver Leaf Maple Trees. They picked them out, helped my husband plant them, played in their branches, and we watched them grow. The branches have begun to grow into the power lines causing potential harm, and creating an unsafe environment. We knew it was time to prune them. We called the power company and they cut the branches away from the harm. The look has changed on one side. The old branches, we will discard.

You see, this is sin. As it grows, if left unchecked, unnoticed, and unattended, it grows. It takes over and will cause harm. It puts us in the path of destruction. This past week, The Kidz learned a verse that was discussed throughout the week. "Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals." I Corinthians 15:33. The company we keep, those who influence us, they will contribute to growth. The growth will be good, pleasing to God, allowing us to grow in Him and for Him. Or, that growth will bring us deep into sin and surround us with danger and lead us into an unhealthy place.

We can be in the world, but not of the world. We can be an influence to those around. We are called by God to be leaders, leaders of others to Christ. We will grow in one of two ways, with sin as it takes over, or different as we cut that sin out of our life. We will stand out. We will look different to others. We will sometimes seem strange to the world around us. We will sometimes let sin build up and have more to cut away at different times of our life. We are human.

But, and I praise God for ALL the buts. But God, allows me to come to Him daily throughout the day for the pruning, trimming, or chain-sawing that needs done in my life. Lamentations 3:23-24, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." That mercy is God's forgiveness.

The branches of my tree will be hauled away, never to be seen again. My sin will be forgiven, never to be present again. Isaiah 43:25. "“I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins."