developing lifestyle worshipers

Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones; 11 however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord. 12 But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—speak blasphemies about things they don’t understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed, 13 suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions as they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and always looking for sin, seducing unstable people, and with hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

(2 Pet. 2:10b-14, HCSB)

God hates sin.  He is especially appalled when sin takes place in the lives of his children.  Unfortunately, believers often categorize sin.  We tend to think of certain sins as more evil than others.  We see other sins as not so severe.

We live in a culture that diminishes the seriousness of sin.  Lying to another person has been reduced to “a little white lie.”  Sexual advances to a coworker is simply labeled as harmless flirting.  People follow their desires and either claim that was just the way they were made or that the devil made them do it.

In this passage, Peter leaves no room for question at how God sees sin.  He hates it.  Sin is simply when people believe like irrational animals.  They follow their appetites.  They see something that they want, and they are fixated on possessing it.  The ability to rationalize is one of the things that is supposed to differentiate animals from human beings.  A dog is not expected to have the rational skills to understand not to steal food from another dog.  A human being is expected to have the rational skills to understand that they can’t act upon every instinct that they experience.

Peter classifies such living as bold, arrogant, blasphemous, slanderous, irrational, carousers, deceivers, seducers, unstable, and so much more.  As believers in Christ, we cannot act on every craving we experience.  King David’s irrational behavior brought about many consequences.  His sin started when he wanted something that didn’t belong to him and he took it (2 Samuel 11).  God punished David for such actions and we won’t get off the hook either.

Today, realize that you are a child of God with the Holy Spirit inside you.  Do not act on every whim like irrational animals.  Fight against the sinful self-indulgence tendencies and choose true freedom in Christ.

A Night of Worship and Hope

Come join us on October 10 at 6:00 p.m. here at North Side Baptist.  This will be a time of worship through music, prayer, and testimony.  Come and find out what it means to Overcome!

This night of worship will help people who need hope find the next step.  We are inviting all types of ministries to be present to help people in need.  For those who need a night of encouragement, hope, worship, prayer, we want to see you there!

North Side Worship’s “Overcome” release will also happen this night and proceeds of the album will go to help those who need to overcome (you see a theme, yet?).

The event is free.  Doors will open at 5:30.

Contact jessica@northsidebc.org for more information.

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