‘…never spare a little sin.’ - J.C. Ryle
We are prone to overlook, avoid, and justify.
It is easy to shrug in the direction of quiet, little sins. It takes both humility and courage to pray with the Psalmist: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’ (Psalm 139:23-24).
The Apostle Paul was no stranger to his own sin - both great and small - he called himself the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15), confessing that he does not do what he wants to do, but does the very thing he hates (Rom 7:15). And yet, it is this former persecutor of the Church who says that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Phil 3:6, Rom 2:4). Repentance requires that we must acknowledge our sins - small and great, the wrong things we have done, the right things we have failed to do, sins of omission and commission, those things are known to us, and those things that are still hidden. Even here, maybe even especially here, we experience the kindness of God that leads us toward repentance - turning away from our sin and turning toward Christ.
Lord, as we enter this season of Lent, would you give us the courage and humility of the Psalmist, so that we might experience your kindness toward us as we see our sin, and experience Your grace? In Jesus’ name, amen.
Praying,
AB