Who is in Control?

 

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know  that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him.  If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he  should pray and God will give him life.  I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.  I am not saying that he  should pray about that.  All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.  We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."  I John 5:13-19

 

It is appalling to hear the language some people use out in public.  It blows my mind how freely people brag about committing sin.  It is nauseating to see how sexualized our whole culture has become.  I am  surprised by how unashamed people are about their own conduct.  But should I be?  Is it really hard to imagine sinners choosing to sin?

 

We are all born with the inherent sin nature, thanks to Adam and Eve.   We all have a tendency to choose to do wrong and have wrong attitudes. It comes with the territory  of being a human.  No one has to teach a child to lie when they do wrong.  No one has to teach a baby to be selfish.  We are hard-wired to behave in that way.  Unless the blood of Jesus draws a line in our life.  Then, we can come to expect right thoughts, attitudes and behaviors.

 

People who are not following Jesus, by default, are "under the control of the evil one."  Satan is calling the shots, leading them around and distorting their thinking.  Rather than be shocked and dismayed,  we should be moved to pray for them!  If we want to see people learn how to dress and show some respect, we will first have to show them Jesus!  He alone has the power to break the chains to the flesh and the dark side of this world.

 

Sometimes Christians forget where they came from.  We get so used to hanging out with other "redeemed" folks that we forget the wretched state we were in, when we met Jesus.  Maybe the strange looking teen at Wal-Mart has never heard that God loves them.  Perhaps the sexually promiscuous young adult thinks this way of doing things is  the "modern way" of dating.  We have to be salt and light, showing people a better way to live.  This cannot be done by shaming them or beating them over the head with our large study Bibles.  We have to pray to see the world as Jesus sees them.  He looks on them with compassion.  He sees their hearts and their hurts.  We have to love them to win them.

 

Dear Lord, help me to see the world through your eyes.  Help me to reach out in love to those who are bound by this world, and controlled by the enemy.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Sherri