sin

a while back, i was reading a book titled, lies women believe...it was a real eye opener about lots of things, some issues that i needed my eyes opened to once again! one of those things i needed to realize was how appealing satan can make sin out to be, as i am every bit as human as the next person.

satan uses different tactics on different people, different personalities. what seems appealing to some does not have the same effect on others. he must use different strategies. some of the things God clearly labels "sin" satan makes out to be fun, safe, innocent, desirable, no big deal, meeting our needs, and unavoidable. he tries to fool us into thinking...

there will be no judgment for my sin
i won't reap what i sow
the choices i make today will not have consequences
i can play with fire and not get burned

he tells us (just as he told eve in the garden long ago), "not only can you disobey God and avoid negative consequences; there are also some definite benefits you will experience if you eat this fruit." basically, whatever consequences you may reap are worth the pleasure and benefit you receive from having your way! after all, if we didn't think there was some "joy" to be had from sinning, why would we choose to sin?

the truth is...

sin is dangerous, deadly, and destructive
we will reap what we sow
every choice we make today will have consequences (whether good or bad)
if we play with fire, we will get burned

sin steals joy - psalm 51:12
sin removes confidence - 1 john 3:19-21
sin brings guilt - psalm 51:3
sin gives satan the upper hand - 2 corinthians 2:9-11
sin quenches God's Spirit - 1 thessalonians 5:19
sin produces fear - proverbs 28:1
sin makes me its slave - john 8:34 & romans 6:16

i pray He gives me the grace to remember what He's taught me next time i am tempted to do wrong...even if it's a secret, so-thought "hidden" trespass.