"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” ~Romans 8:5-6

This week has kind of had the same theme going.  The Lord has really been speaking to my heart about sin.  How do we get rid of it and run a better race?  How do we draw close to God by seeking forgiveness for our sins?  And now I’m challenged to write about the commission on our lives to share with others the peace that passes all understanding when they too partake of casting their sins away and asking for forgiveness.  Where do we go from here?  How will we let people know that they do not have to live according to the sinful nature that will lead to death?  It all begins with the Truth!
 
Yesterday, I was at the beach watching some of the street entertainers with my sister. One young kid really stood out to me.  He had a few illusions that built up to his grand finale.  He did an excellent job bringing in a big crowd.  It was his finale that started to stir this devotional in my heart.  He had two men come out of the crowd and help him into a straitjacket. I was okay at this point.  Then he had the two men pick up a 100 foot rope that earlier marked the perimeter for where people could stand.  These two men brought the rope around him, until there was only enough to make a knot in the back.  At this point, I was still okay.  It was all part of the show, right?
 
Well, this is where things started to change for me. Nick, the young man, 17 years old to be exact. He started to try and get free. The crowd was all cheering him on and Nick was growing very tired. There were times he took a knee to the ground to wipe the sweat from his brow. He was tied up in his own prison and everyone around him was watching. My sister and I were feeling an ache inside. I wanted so badly to jump in and unbuckle one of the buckles. I just wanted to help him. Some of the people in the crowd yelled, "Don"t give up!" "You can do it!" "You"ll make it!" Eventually he did manage to get free from the 100 foot rope tied around him and the straitjacket that was buckled in 6 different places.
 
Yes, Nick became free from his prison that he created on the boardwalk, but inside I started to think about all the people in this world who are walking around in their own little “sin prisons”. The unfortunate thing is that even some Christians are walking around in their own sin prisons.  And the even more unfortunate thing are the Christians who point fingers at those who are in the “sin prisons”.  My heart is breaking right now, as I think about the numerous times I’ve watched someone be judged for the church they go to, the worship style they have, the clothes they wear, the tattoo they have, their hair is too long or maybe too short, that one is an alcoholic, that one smokes, that one is a drug addict, that one cheated on his wife, that one is a thief, that one is a liar, oh the numerous things that we as Christians have pointed at. Instead of loving people to Jesus we’re busy pointing fingers letting people know what they are doing wrong.

I’m so glad God doesn’t love this way.  He sees a human being, someone HE desires to call His own.  He wants us to be His love extended.  Will we choose to see the “sin prison” people are living in and help them take it apart brick by brick?  It is not our job to convict, the Holy Spirit was sent for that!  Our job is to help people see Jesus, to lead them to the Truth and help them know what a relationship with Jesus is all about! This will break the chains that bind those who are in their sin.  Remember, you yourself are a sinner saved by grace!
 
If you are someone who is reading this and you are living in a “sin prison”, please contact me.  I would love to talk to you and let you know about the love of my Father in Heaven!  He doesn’t want you to stay in your sin any more and He is not pointing a finger at you.  I’m sorry for those who have.  All of us are imperfect, living for the day that we will be made perfect in Jesus.  Come take this journey with us, as we long for the day to all meet together in Heaven and be with our perfect Savior!
 
Lord, I come to You broken and humbled. There are so many people in this world hurting and living in sin prisons. I pray that You will help me be an ambassador of your Truth, so that those who have yet to know forgiveness may know it soon! Help me to be aware of my own actions! May I not point fingers and see what others are not because every where I look there is someone who needs You. The only finger pointing anywhere should be directly towards You! I pray I will lead people to You and the love that is so much greater than my comprehension!

Humbled Once Again,

Sarah