Sin is sin is sin: Romans 13:1-7

Feb 23, 2012

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Today’s Reading: Romans 13:1-7

Click over to see the whole Romans in 29 Days reading schedule. Feel free to jump in right where we are today, even if you haven’t been reading with us all month.

Today it was tough for me to zero in on one verse for SOAP. This is what eventually grabbed me. And it grabbed me quite tightly.

Scripture: Romans 13:3

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

Observation:

If you are following the rules, you have nothing to fear.

Application:

I admit it was pretty easy for me to fly right through today’s reading and feel pretty good about myself. If you know me in real life, you know that I am a rule follower. Sometimes I even wonder if my stoic rule-following is my own form of rebellion from my parents, who are a bit more loosey-goosey than I am.

So, after reading today, my initial response was that today’s scripture didn’t have anything for me. But that is never true. God always has SOMEthing for us when we meet with Him, even if we cannot hear it at first.

And then I thought about the fact that I do not follow every single rule all of the time. Sure, it might be easy to gloss over and say I follow just about every one, or that my sins aren’t nearly as bad as other sins. But sin is sin. Every single sin is just as wrong as another. And not embracing that every single day is sin in itself.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for thinking my sin isn’t as bad as some other sin out there. As much as I would like to think I am a rule-follower, I am not following every single one, and me trying to make light of my own sin is wrong.

I am sorry. Please forgive me. I need you to make me whole.

Thank you for loving me in my brokenness and forgiving me all of my trip ups. Thank you for this reminder of my brokenness and of your love and forgiveness.

Lord, I am a little scared in posting this as I don’t want anyone out there to think I am self-righteous and judgmental. That just sounds terrible.

You know the true me, though. You know where I wallow and where I am strong. And you make me whole.

Please, Lord, continue to guide me. Help me. Forgive me. Thank you.

Comments

2 responses to “Sin is sin is sin: Romans 13:1-7”

Jackie

February 24, 2012

Loved this! I, too, am a rule follower. Doesn’t mean I don’t sin, however! I think it’s easy to identify the big, ugly, glaring sins — it’s the little ones that trip us up. Gossip, little white lies, etc. Those are the ones we have to dig deep to identify and correct! Not an easy task! Love your thought provoking applications :)

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JessieLeigh

February 23, 2012

Oh, I’m a rule-follower, too (you’d NEVER find me in the express lane with too many items! ;)), and I so get this. Really good reflections… definitely something I’m going to be thinking about throughout the day. Thanks.

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