You Are Guilty of Sin

What does it take to know Jesus in an intimate and personal way? The Bible calls it being crucified with Christ, but you could call it "saying no to sin." Ask the Lord to give you His resurrection power and help you squelch anger, stifle gossip, and put a lid on those mind games. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passion and desires (Gal. 5:24). We use words in strange ways. Let us read some line. A man, far gone in drunkenness and in dreadful disarray, staggered down the street and bumped against a stout woman of appalling respectability. She glowered at him and said, "You horrible creature. You are the drunkest man  I have ever seen." The drunk paused in his uneven progress, turned slowly, and said, "Lady, you're the ugliest woman I have ever seen, and that's worse. Because when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'm going to be sober. The apostle Paul spoke of this when he said," I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.. Be coming like Him in His death." Paul realized that in order to know Christ fully, it meant crucifying the old man. Mortifying his sinful nature with all its passion. Nailing worldly afflection to the cross. Reckoning himself dead to sin and alive to God. We say we want to know the Lord's love, to feel His favor, to experience His Joy and peace. We want to know  His presence and His smile. But could we say we are dying to know Him? If so, Jesus ask you to meet Him at the Cross. Let's deal with our own sin and not become expert in pointing out the sin of others. Don't be too harsh with the one who sins nor pelt him word or stone, unless you are sure, yes, doubly sure, that you have no sin of your own. The message is clear Christ shows mercy to us when we admit our sin, but He Judges our hypocrisy and pride when we refuse to be humbled in His presence. The voice of the people is the voice of God.