July 30

To be honest, today was a tough reading. Kinda’ depressing. There was only one thing that stood out to me and that is - sin is dangerous. Judah is so deep in sin that they can’t get out, and even the plea of those who have remained true to God isn’t reaching His compassionate heart. That is so heavy.

One scripture stands out; “Can a leopard change his spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." Sin is a TRAP! Once you get accustomed to doing it, can you change? NO! This was the truth of the Word that did comfort my heart. Although sin is a trap that enslaves people – which I don’t think we really recognize that fact (maybe with drugs and alcohol, but how about unbelief and criticism and things like that?) – however for me sin can not only be overcome, it has been overcome! Not only does the blood of Jesus eradicate sin from my “account” forever, but I am not a slave to it anymore. That doesn’t mean that I can sin a “blue streak” (whatever that means) and then let go of it like it is a can dipped in oil. No, it will hold on to me as long as it can! However I have the ultimate victory because I have been freed from the slavery to sin. Paul says, “so don’t get tangled up in it then”, and that is my plan. I am free from it to get away from it, not to visit the jail cell from time to time and have dinner there.