James 4:6b-8:  “Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

I’m often amazed at the games people try to play with God and themselves.  (I’ve done these all myself in the past)  We will try to “make deals” with God, we will try to justify sin to God and ourselves, we will minimize our sin in light of what others around us may be doing – All of this is not helpful of course, nor does it make sense.  God is God and knows our every thought, every intention of our heart.  We’re only fooling ourselves.

Gen 6:5 – “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

God does not respond to these attempts at conversation because He is not glorified by deal making, and He cannot justify sin.  God is pleased in being made much of, which is really just to say He is pleased to be shown to be glorious as He actually is.  He is made much of by giving grace where none is due, out of an overflow of His love and mercy.  Look to the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18:10-14 – “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

My encouragement today is to humble yourself before God.  If there’s an area of your life that has laid hidden, stop lying to yourself and Him about where you are with that sin, and simply confess to Him.  Seek His forgiveness and grace to overcome your sin, and gain more of Him.  Know that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)  Then be transparent with other Christians with your sin to avail yourself to the means of grace God has for you.  Humbly draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, for our good and His glory.

Grace and Peace,
Adam