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May 08, 2025 18:00pm

What Now?: Sin

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The following comes from the devotional book “What Now?” by Ashley Akers. To learn more, go to www.whatnowdevo.com.

Sin

Have you ever done something and immediately regretted it? Or how about you knew something was wrong and you did it anyway? I’ve been there and done that so many times, too many to count. Sin is rebellion against God. God is completely perfect, and sin separates us from Him. Some people think sin is no big deal and view it as innocent, fun, desirable, okay if it doesn’t hurt anyone or okay as long as you don’t get caught. These are lies from the enemy and believing the enemy’s lie creates distance between you and God.

Isaiah 59:2 says,

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Sin is dangerous. It has consequences. It is destructive. And according to Romans 6:23, sin leads to death. There is a reason people say, “If you play with fire, you will get burned.” If only one sin keeps us from a relationship with God, it is a big deal. Not only that, sin will steal your joy.

Psalm 51:12:

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

King David wrote this after committing adultery with Bathsheba, finding out she was pregnant and then having her husband killed to cover it up. He sinned against God and the baby died. His sin produced more sin and resulted in his misery and brokenness. He acted upon the desire of his heart—aka: his feelings—and suffered major consequences, guilt and a loss of joy.

John 8:34 says,

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

According to Jesus, sin is so powerful you not only lose your joy over it, you become a slave to it. It can produce so much fear you find yourself sinning more and more to cover up the first sin, just like David did. Before you know it, you are totally trapped in your own mess. When you realize you are in bondage over your sin, you may think you have no way out, but you do. Jesus is the way. He can immediately break chains of bondage if you confess your sin to Him and stop doing it.

1 John 1:9 says,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Corinthians 3:17 continues,

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Jesus is the only one who can give freedom, peace and restore your joy. This requires confession of our sins to Jesus and asking for forgiveness. You’ll be amazed at how quickly this freedom from bondage is given when you turn to Him.

Reflection Questions

1. What sins are currently holding you in bondage?

2. Has Jesus delivered you from the bondage of sin?