Surprise Sin

Over Easter weekend I had the opportunity to visit my grandparents. We caught up over soup and egg salad sandwiches and then migrated to the living room with cups of tea. Gradually the conversation turned to a couple young siblings from their church whom they've observed seldom fight. Sometimes these kids do get angry or annoyed with each other and then they fight, but that is not their normal relationship. My grandfather made this observation, "isn't that just like sin? You are living your life of obedience and then all of a sudden its like sin gets the better of you."

It was a comforting statement coming from my elderly grandfather who has been walking with the Lord for over 80 years. Even as a seasoned saint, sin still creeps up on him. But it has also made me think quite a bit.

Sometimes I am tempted to think that if I do everything right (regular devotions, get enough sleep, listen to good music, eat well, have Christian fellowship, exercise) then I won't fall into sin. And while it's true that all those things definitely aid in our fight against sin (have you ever noticed how much stupider people are when you haven't gotten enough sleep?) there is no magic formula for fighting sin. 

Now, sin is always a choice. When I am frustrated with a student or gossip about a coworker, those are my choices and I am responsible for that sin. I did that. Every single sin is my choice. And I am not passive when it comes to obedience or sanctification. God wants me to spend time with Him and there is wisdom in caring for my body through sleep and exercise. 

But, while fighting sin is my responsibility, it is impossible for me to do it in my own power according to my own strategies. 

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

Apart from Jesus I cannot overcome any sin. And I wonder if He allows those sneaky, surprise times of sin during a life of ordinary obedience so that I don't forget how much I need Him. 

I need Him. 

The very idea that I can fight and overcome sin through my own obedience is to make me god and to remove the necessity of the power of the Spirit. So, while the times of surprise temptation are not pleasant, perhaps they hold great blessing, because, like a child who has strayed to far from her father and then receives a scare and comes running back to his arms, those moments of temptation remind me that I am not strong, I am dust, and I run back to Jesus. 

One of my favourite sections on the blogs that I read is the stuff at the bottom that tells me a bit about what the author is up to or what they are enjoying, so I thought I'd add that to my blog as well. Then at the very bottom I'll share a quote that I came across or have been thinking about.

What I'm Reading 

• With my morning Bible reading I'm working through J.C. Ryle's commentary on the Gospel of Mark. Ryle originally wrote his gospel commentaries to help families with family worship, and if you're looking for some aid in your family or private worship I highly recommend them! The sections are short, insightful, and pastoral.
• I just finished listening to Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First by Laura Tremaine. It was okay. The audio book is well done, the questions are helpful, I think some of the stories she shares are not appropriate.  
• Just started The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr. It's on the agenda for book club and I can share no opinion about it yet. 
• I also just finished Middlemarch by George Eliot. If you like 19th century British literature (think Pride and Prejudice) this was a long but enjoyable read. 
• The Gift of Home by Bre Doucette. This one is an easy read about decorating your home.

What I'm Enjoying

• cold raspberry tea. I just put a lemon slice and a tea bag of fruity tea in a pitcher of water and plop that in the fridge.
• Sara Grove's album Abide with Me.
• doing the dishes and dishwasher every morning. I don't work until later in the morning and it's been nice to start the day with a clean kitchen area. 
• London Fog from Tim Horton's from a student's mom. 
• My paddleboard! The weather was so warm last week that my friend and I took our boards out. 

"Prayer is the main secret of success in spiritual business. It moves Him who can move heaven and earth. It brings down the promised aid of the Holy Ghost, without whom the finest sermons, the clearest teaching, and the most diligent working, are all alike in vain." J.C. Ryle