If you’re anything like me, you struggle with besetting sins. Those sins that rear their heads on an irritatingly regular basis and that you can’t seem to conquer no matter how hard you try.
They might be very obvious to those around you. They might be hidden away far from the sight of those you love. But they’re there. Repeatedly reminding you, reminding me, that we’re rebels at heart.
The trouble with besetting sins is that they all too often encourage us to believe things that aren’t true. They encourage us to doubt our status as God’s precious children, doubt God’s grace and doubt the possibility of change. Something that brings Satan much pleasure – something that can leave us inert and languishing in guilt. But God’s word tells a very different story. And as Christians we are called to focus on that truth today and everyday:
| The lie | The truth |
|---|---|
| God can’t possibly love me now … | Let them [us] give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men (Psalm 107:15) |
| I’m too bad to be forgiven … | Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isaiah 1:18) |
| God can’t want me in his family – not when I act like this… | How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are (1John 3:1) |
| There’s no hope of change – I just have to stay this way … | Like clay in the hand of the potter, so you are in my hand, O house of Israel (Jeremiah 18:6) |
| There’s nothing I can do any more … | Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:13) |
So, whatever our sin, however many times we have failed today… Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of god. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).
And let’s do that confident that he who began a good work in you [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
