Don't Focus on Your Sin

Dear One, you just begin to comprehend that you need not fear the sins of other human beings, but you still make an exception for your own sins.

Christ's death on the Cross has encompassed even your sins, Child, even yours. Your shortcomings will not diminish the power God's message through you. Do not be afraid of other human beings, and do not be afraid of yourself.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart...

“Do not say, ‘I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

"Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth…”

“…I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.

“…They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:5a, 7-9, 12b, 19).

Don’t set a higher standard for your own behavior than you set for others; this is a form of pompousness. Do you see that pride could creep in cloaked as false humility? “I am a Christian and so I must be more perfect than you.”

You think to stay a step ahead of those who might see your shortcomings. You are afraid that if they see your faults that they will discount the Lord's words spoken through you. This fear of being judged causes you to attempt to analyze yourself in order to find your own faults so that you can make excuse.

You can’t do it. No one can analyze themselves properly or completely. It’s like attempting to focus on an object that is one millimeter from your eye—you can’t see clearly. Don’t try. Place your focus on the Lord, be tolerant of others because you know of the grace in which you walk, because you know that your sins have required the death of the Son of God…and do not forget His resurrection. He is not always dying (He died once, for all), but He is always living (He lives forever). Christ's death is eternal fact, but it is the resurrection that brings victory.

Christ died for you, and He lives for you. The death made the life possible; the seed brings forth the flower, and the flower brings forth the fruit. You cannot eat a seed and be nourished; it is the fruit that brings health and strength. Stop eating the “seed” of His death and partake freely of the fruit of new life that the Holy death provided for you.

Now is not the time for mourning; death is in the past for the Christian and you need fear it no more. Let the memory of the grief and horror recede and let the New Life begin. Sin has lost its power! You are being renewed day by day; you can choose to focus (or attempt to focus) upon the remnants of sin that remain, or you can see and rejoice in the signs of new life.

Scripture: "'Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, becasue you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:55-58).