Out of the Way!

Say it boldly; say it loud…Jesus is Lord!! It's one thing to say that from the comfort of your favorite seat at church but does it ring out from your home and lifestyle, too? Can a co-worker tell you are dedicated to Christ by the way you act at work? Does your demeanor with your family behind closed doors reflect that of one seeking to be more Christ-like? Is your daily walk one of a person of integrity or of convenience? Is situational morality your best friend and/or partner in crime and sin? These are questions to be asking ourselves. It's easy to point out the slips and failings of others but we need to monitor our own behaviors in the bright white light that is pure and holy first and foremost.

I think we as a people cut ourselves too much slack. Yes, we all fall and fail. We will continue to do so as long as we walk around in our earth suits, our human flesh. The issue I have is when we glaze over our shortcomings and dismiss them with a casual, "Oh, I am a work in progress." Yes, we are….however; can we really say we are repentant of our sins when we do not take ownership of them? Is it possible to acknowledge our shortcomings glibly with the wave of a hand and shrug of a shoulder? I'm not so sure this qualifies as owning our sins and true repentance. It's more like the 'wink and a nod' we read so often about in Proverbs….  

I'm not saying we shouldn't forgive ourselves and move on without dwelling on the failing or beat ourselves up with a proverbial whip when we mess up but we should first seek the forgiveness of God and I do not think that is possible when we glaze over the areas of personal sin. If you cannot admit to that sin as being undesirable to God can you ask for forgiveness without acknowledgment and ownership? I do not think it possible. Doesn't scripture say that if we believe ourselves to be without sin we are deceiving ourselves? Denial is a slippery slope we traverse when we blow off that which we do not repent.

All that being said…..is Jesus really Lord in our lives when we overlook sin and call it by another name when it is our own or that of a loved one? 'Self' becomes lord when we use the standard of our liking rather than that of Jesus Christ. There is no 'dying to self' when self-protection is in play. Whether we hold our loved ones and ourselves accountable or not, the day will come when we all stand before our God and answer for that which we have not repented. We will sin and we will fall. Let's not compound the offense by denial and white-washing. Own it up front and confess it. Repentance can only come from a sincere heart. Denial and a sincere repentant heart cannot co-habitat.

Jesus is Lord, this day and every day. We need to get our 'self' out of the way!