Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity…I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin…Thou art my hiding place…Thou shalt preserve me from trouble…Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart
I was resting between sets on the bench the other day at the Powerhouse Gym when I heard a squealing, “Spot Please! Little help!” I looked over to my right and saw a kid with a loaded bar resting on his chest. I ran over and lifted it off, asked if he was okay, then went back for my next set. For the rest of my entire workout, this kid would walk up to me and ask me if I needed a spot or help with anything. “You okay?” He’d ask me. I was kind of humored at his attempts to help me, the one who just saved him. As you can imagine, my thoughts were storming and striving to be audible. “You just got a bar stuck on your chest and you’re asking ME if I’m ok!?”
I tell this story for a purpose. As I left the gym I found myself at the pinnacle of pride. “Who did that kid think he was, trying to help me?” In reality, there have been several times in the past when mid-rep I called out “Need a spot!!” And here I am thinking this kid is some sort of ”Wanna-be” lifter. I was being super proud. Aaand pride is sin. I had to ask God to forgive me for my thoughts.
I wonder, though, how many times we’ve all thought like this. Thoughts of pride towards a classmate, friend, sibling, parent, or pastor(or even to me - I’m sure I’ve given you reason [sorry, I try not to.]). How about this one. Maybe we’re in the place of the “Wanne-Be Lifter” and we go to God and say, “Need some help?” Oh, sure maybe we wouldn’t ACTUALLY say it. But in our actions, we might take things into our own hands. Maybe we think that God is just like us – Just as strong, same ability, who need’s Him? Maybe we can teach God a thing or two.
I hope this is not true or at least the norm in our lives. But watch your form! One slip up could really affect the rest of our lives.
2 John v.8 - “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”
Here’s a little project for you:
1. Look up the verses that use the phrase “Take heed” in the New Testament.
2. List the “Take heed” commands (I counted 28 in the NT)
3. Use this list to check up on yourself.
BE STRONG. GROW.
Sin’s Consequences upon my body:
Psalm 51
