The World Is Watching


FRESH FRUIT
Check out my latest published book. After spending countless hours working up to its release, I’m proud to announce that it is now available as a paperback and ebook at https://www.dovechristianpublishers.com/catalog/non-fiction/Fresh-Fruit/


 The book is filled with meditations to help us develop a closer relationship to God. Fresh Fruit is the next book for those who want and need the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives. This is also great for Adult Sunday School classes and other discussion groups.




So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17)

This verse infers that as Christians, we always know the right thing to do. But there are times when we may unconsciously do the wrong thing in haste and without forethought especially when our relationship with God is new. But it is not His will that we continue to be blind to our own mistakes and the world needs to see the true difference between right and wrong. They are watching.

The Greek translation of the Aramaic word for trespass as used in the Lord’s prayer is Paráptōma, and means to fall away after being close-beside, i.e. a lapse (deviation) from the truth; an error, "slip up"; wrong doing that can be (relatively) unconscious, "non-deliberate." (Strong’s Original Greek).
We know that slip-ups do happen. We all sin. However, sometimes we would like to believe our sin was unconscious when, (if we are honest with ourselves and God) we knew that our actions or words would not be approved of by Him. We lie to ourselves therefore making our sin a conscious choice.

 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Knowledge of right and wrong comes from the Holy Spirit which is given to us when we accept Christ into our hearts. Pretending that we are unaware of the difference is an insult to the Father. We are saved by the Grace of God through Christ’s death on the cross. But this is not just a once and done event. We are instructed to grow in the knowledge of our God and to draw closer in relationship to Him, therefore sinning less and showing His love more. We are set apart from the world for His work. We should be maturing as Christians, knowing right from wrong, not staying in the same place.

As we mature, we become more aware of times when what we did or wanted to do was wrong. We become aware of who our Lord wants us to be as we stay in communication with Him and learn more about Him. We do not remain babes in Christ, constantly tripping and falling.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

The Holy Spirit has been given to us to instruct and guide. Praying daily that the Holy Spirit will flow into and through us will make sure we not only know what is right but practice it with humility. None of us can get through this life without sinning no matter how hard we try. Consciously or unconsciously it is impossible for us to be perfectly sinless.

Praise God for His Grace. He looks at our hearts and knows our deepest thoughts. If we are honestly trying to grow closer to Him, to do His work, and to follow Christ’s example, He will not hold unconscious or conscious sin against us.

As this world embraces evil, and knowledge of right and wrong is lost, we are the ones who become the moral compass. We must know with certainty what is right, (erring on the side of grace as God does) and we must show it to everyone. We can not afford for non-Christians to see us doing wrong. The time is already here when Christians are looked down upon and persecuted. The world will not turn from their wicked ways if we do not show them the difference that only Christ can make.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Prayer: Father God, your grace and love for us is so great. When we don’t do what is right, knowingly or not, you are ready to forgive and to teach us. We have accepted You into our hearts and lives and we want to know and do Your will. Continue to show us the way so that we will draw closer to you and be a light to a dark and evil world. Guard our speech and our actions and use them for your purposes in all things. Amen.



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