Sin is the source of all of our sufferings. When sin entered the world through the sin of Adam, we lost our ways to God. The sinful desires of our flesh affected our spiritual condition and behavior towards God. Galatians 5:19-21 says this about sin, "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." The temptation of sin is to lure us to live in whatever we want and however we want, regardless of what God says. As a result, we suffer the consequences of our sinful behavior.
But because of God's love, Jesus came to save us from our sin and its consequences so that we could live in righteousness that brings life. 1 Peter 2:24 says, "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed." When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we died to sin. It means that we are no longer in the power of sin. All our sins have been forgiven, and we can now choose to live in God's ways. Whereas before, sin controlled our hearts and minds, but now we have the Spirit of God in us to give us the power to say no to sin.
As believers, we do not need to follow our sinful desires that bring pain and suffering to our life. When we are tempted to sin, let us remind ourselves that we died to sin already because of what Jesus had done on the cross. He personally carried our sins on the cross that we may die to sin and live for what is right. Let us remember this simple truth: sin brings death and destruction, no matter how exciting or attractive it is, but the ways of God always bring life and joy, even in suffering.
Ask yourself these questions: What does it mean that I died to sin? How did I die to sin? Do I have the power to say no to sin?
Write down all the worries you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for saving me from my sin through your Son, Jesus. Lord Jesus, thank you for personally carrying my sins in your body on the cross so that I could die to sin and live for what is right in you. Please help me to say no to sin and always choose what is right that I may live in your joy and peace. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.