Yes....the title is from the Dave Matthews Band song Grey Street. This week I want to explore our sinful nature and our tendency to skirt the line of sin. About 5 years ago, I remember hearing a sermon from Andy Stanley when I lived in Atlanta. He talked about how the Bible draws a line in the sand that we as Christians should not cross. They are the Ten Commandments. Now, the Ten Commandments really are meant to show us that we need Jesus. If you've told a white lie, guess what....you broke a commandment and without Jesus you would be eternally damned. The Ten Commandments are meant to convict and bring your focus towards Jesus in thanks! In Andy's message, he kept asking the question about why we try and justify and get as close as we can to the line without actually crossing it. That is a dangerous game to play because one day you will cross it and that sin could be not only damaging to you, but to the people that you love. Before leaving the service, Andy passed out cards that said this: "In light of my past experiences, my current circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, is this the right thing to do?" He challenged everyone to constantly use this question in our decision making, especially when tempted.
I titled this post "On the Corner of Grey Street" because of a conversation I was having with a friend. A mentor had given instruction to them to sort of accept the "grey" in their life, and that this was a time to live in the grey. I immediately replied that this advice was the worst possible advice anyone could give. What the Bible says is firm. What God wants from us is firm. We live in a world that offers curving lines, but God's line is strong and absolute. His line is absolute because He loves us!
James 1:13-14 says this: When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Have you ever noticed that when you are maybe feeling low, tired, and tempted, that your life is typically in a grey spot? When you are in this grey spot, is it fair to say that your prayer life is very weak? I know in my experience, sin is something that attacks you with paper cuts. Small tears in your spiritual skin that almost goes unnoticed until you've been cut so badly that you are spiritually dead. For me, this is why the little things matter.
In the song Grey Street, the lyrics: "She thinks hey, how did I come to this? I dream myself a thousand times around the world, but I can't get out of this place. There's an emptiness inside her, and she'd do anything to fill it in, but all the colors mix together to grey, and it breaks her heart."
My prayer for you this week is that you focus on the hard line that the Bible lays out. That you focus on the fact that these commandments are meant to bring us closer to Jesus. I want you to focus on the things or actions in your life that are leading you towards the cliff's edge. Though you might not be breaking a commandment, if your path is leading in that direction then run in the opposite direction towards Jesus. The single serving pleasure that sin offers is nothing compared to the love and joy that Jesus has given us for all of eternity!
Have a wonderful week!!!
Song of the week: Grey Street
I titled this post "On the Corner of Grey Street" because of a conversation I was having with a friend. A mentor had given instruction to them to sort of accept the "grey" in their life, and that this was a time to live in the grey. I immediately replied that this advice was the worst possible advice anyone could give. What the Bible says is firm. What God wants from us is firm. We live in a world that offers curving lines, but God's line is strong and absolute. His line is absolute because He loves us!
James 1:13-14 says this: When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Have you ever noticed that when you are maybe feeling low, tired, and tempted, that your life is typically in a grey spot? When you are in this grey spot, is it fair to say that your prayer life is very weak? I know in my experience, sin is something that attacks you with paper cuts. Small tears in your spiritual skin that almost goes unnoticed until you've been cut so badly that you are spiritually dead. For me, this is why the little things matter.
In the song Grey Street, the lyrics: "She thinks hey, how did I come to this? I dream myself a thousand times around the world, but I can't get out of this place. There's an emptiness inside her, and she'd do anything to fill it in, but all the colors mix together to grey, and it breaks her heart."
My prayer for you this week is that you focus on the hard line that the Bible lays out. That you focus on the fact that these commandments are meant to bring us closer to Jesus. I want you to focus on the things or actions in your life that are leading you towards the cliff's edge. Though you might not be breaking a commandment, if your path is leading in that direction then run in the opposite direction towards Jesus. The single serving pleasure that sin offers is nothing compared to the love and joy that Jesus has given us for all of eternity!
Have a wonderful week!!!
Song of the week: Grey Street
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