We were made to be in relationship with God, the source of our life. Recognizing our limited abilities to know and control our lives, we grow afraid. Out of fear, we grasp for control and put ourselves in God's rightful place. In doing so, we commit a sin - an act against God. But more than that, we fall into a state of sin - a broken relationship with God. Sin is not only a single action we take but also the state of brokenness we find ourselves in as a result of that action.
When we sin, we cut ourselves off from God, the source of our life. Depriving ourselves of the life-giving power of God's Spirit, we fall into death - not only the end of our lives but also the end of the true, abundant life we have been given here and now. We are trapped into a vicious cycle of fear, sin, and the resulting death that breeds greater fear. Try as we might, we are unable to break the cycle on our own. Only the God who is powerful enough to create an entire universe out of nothing can re-create life where there is death, forgiveness where there is sin, and love where there is fear.
Our only hope is the God from whom we have turned. To overcome fear, sin, and death, we have to repent - that is, to turn back - to God.
Thoughts to ponder: What broken relationships do you have in your life? What role do fear and sin play in that brokenness? What would it take to repair those broken relationships? How might love and forgiveness give new life to those relationships? What might happen if you love and forgive as God does?
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