Litter Bugs
Posted in Daily Focus on Tuesday, March 25, 2014
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
Every spring after the snow thawed in the ditches near our home, the ugliness of winter's past sins would be revealed. An endless disarray of empty glass liquor bottles and aluminum beer cans lined both sides of our country road for more than a mile. Looking at the mess, my young son shook his head in disgust. "Mom," he said. "Why do they have to throw their garbage in our ditch?"
Understanding his displeasure, I replied, "I don't know, but can you imagine the mess their lives are in if what they've left behind looks like this?"
The Bible doesn't pull any punches when it reveals God's attitude toward sin's ugliness. The Scriptures say sin is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 6:16), and He hates those who do iniquity (Psalm 5:5). No matter if the sin is great or small in our mind, we suffer when we choose to disobey God. Our sinful actions and choices trash not only our lives, but also the lives of everyone they touch.
As a Christian homeschooling parent, do you take your sinful failings seriously? Proverbs 14:9 says, "Fools make a mock at sin." Each time you choose to lose your patience, make unloving remarks, or fail to discipline your children, you leave a mess in your own family, as well as the world. Left unchecked, sin's filthy effect will split your family apart and give the world cause to look on homeschoolers and Christians with disgust. Start picking up the mess today by coming before the Lord and seeking His cleansing from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Father, forgive me for not hating sin like You do. Help me to deal with those seemingly "little" sins that make my life ugly and ruin Your best in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(9 comments)
CRYSTAL A 03/25/2009 06:18:02
This is just where I am at. We are pulling out of a long stretch of failure to do what we know we ought to do. A time of confusion and laziness: sin. Thank you so much. This is the encouragement I so needed today.
JENNY T 03/26/2010 18:53:19
Thanks so much for blessing home schooling families (especially Moms) with these devotions. I enjoy and grow from each one and especially appreciate that the verses are KJV. Keep up the great work!
THANDI N 03/25/2011 06:02:29
I second what Jenny said. I look forward to reading them, they're truly a blessing. I pray that I will never get so used to sin that I start to tolerate it and forget how disgusting it is in God's eyes. Society prefers us to accept ANYTHING.But does God?
MICHELLE M 03/25/2011 08:29:59
God has been reminding me in the last couple days that it is not what is in the man that corrupts him, but what comes out. I am in constant need of the reminder to stay attuned to the sins I commit. Thank you for another reminder!
WANDY S 03/26/2011 06:52:07
God bless this site! Each Daily Focus is a blessing for me and my family. I would like to share my concern about a teacher of my son. Every moment that I talk with this teacher and ask about how is my son working she has a opinion bad about him. I know that my son is not working very well this year, that's the reason I'm giving him homeschooling and the most of all I'm tired about the comments of this teacher. She told that he's not going to be successful in the university and the worst of all that all the classroom is not motivated and the grades are really bad. I'm dissapointed about the comments of this teacher because I think that we have to transmit to our student positive words and the commitment of each teacher is helping the student. Thank and God bless this site!
KATHY SPIELER 03/25/2013 13:00:43
Dear AOP,
I am thankful for these devotionals. And trying to be in line with this one, I only speak in kindness in what I'm about to say.
For a month or so I recieved no devotionals,. I really missed them! When they cam ebac, the last 2 + months they hjave all been repeats. No one interacts anymore, no one gives any ratings, I am generally reading my comments from over a year ago. Is the Wonderful lady who writes these devotionals ill? If so, Please let me know, I will pray for her, and I'm sure others will join in as well.
I miss reading new devotionals. We started homeschooling about 2 years ago. Maybe there were only so many written and now they just repeat. Anyway, please let me know. I truly miss new stories and interaction with all; the other homeschooling Mom's that used to come on this site.
Sincerely,
Kathy S.
TERESA SULLIVAN 03/25/2013 20:30:44
I agree with Kathy. Is it possible for new devotionals to be provided?
Sherry Miller 03/25/2014 13:05:41
God is sooo good all the time! I am all NEW to homeschooling. Lord, i pray that you would help me have patience, understanding, keep a positive outlook on life. I've learnt that if we just put GOD FIRST in our life, everything else will just fall in place. I just want to be a wonderful Momma to my kids and teach them first and foremost about OUR LORD. Who died on the cross for mine and your sins. May Jesus be magnified today and forever more. Thanks to everyone!
Barb Welch 03/25/2014 13:47:57
Thank you for your word picture of what gets left behind and what must the person's life look like. I need to choose my words carefully. I am having a hard time with my son right now in the 9th grade. He does not want to do the work...I need to show Christ to him and respond quietly and kindly.
Thanks again for the reminder of how my attitude will leave a mess if I am not careful.
Barb