his year,during Lent, I am using Zach Zender's new book called the Forgiving Challenge. It is based on the Red Letter Challenge that we went through together a couple of years ago. If any of you are interested in getting this book, please let me know. I will be putting in an order soon.

Day 1

Zach says that sin is a small word that packs a mighty punch. In a culture where we have become addicted to being offended, one of the most offensive things you could say to someone is that they are a "sinner." We live in a world that likes to accept and affirm all decisions and choices, when in reality, every single one of us is a sinner.
 

Romans 3:10   There is no one righteous, not even one.

Romans 3:23  ...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Without first understanding and accepting that you are a sinner, you will never be free.

But what exactly is sin?  Sin means "to miss the mark." You cannot attain the perfect standard that God has set out for you. Even if you just miss a little bit, you still miss.

And yet, there's a twisted perception of reality that thinks if you just become better and wealthier, buy a better house, get a greater job, just keep improving, etc., then you will be happy and all will be well. But we know that even the very best version of ourselves will never be good enough for God and will never even fully satisfy us.

God loves you. Deeply. But He cares about who you are becoming too. Deeply. God loves you for who you are, but His freedom doesn't leave you just as you are.

Psalm 40:2  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

We have a God who brings freedom to our lives through His ultimate rescue. We have a God who is greater and bigger than sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, not only can your sin be defeated, but God can even take the worst parts of our story, even our sins, and use them for His glory.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,