Have you ever done something you were ashamed of? Have you ever committed a crime? Have you ever stolen anything, gotten drunk, had sex outside of marriage, ate too much or spent too much time lying around on the couch? All these things are not resume boosters. All these things are the things we'd like to keep quite. We would like to keep them our private little secrets.
We have good aspirations most of the time. We all think animal cruelty is a bad thing. When we get married we think that marriages should last forever. We all would like to think of our lives as being happy, fulfilling and satisfying. Most of us would think that we should feed the hungry, heal the sick and provide clothing for the naked and housing for the homeless. The reality is that we all live lives somewhere in between. That is because WE, sadly, are more important to ourselves than the needs of OTHERS.
Have you ever heard of the on-line "match-making" service called Ashley Madison? If you don't, you can get an idea of what they are all about by their motto, "Life is short. Have an affair." Basically they are a cyber-pimp for your sinful desires.
Recently some hackers got into the Ashley Madison database and did the unthinkable . . . at least in the eyes of Ashley Madison's clients. They released all of their names to the public. According to a recent article in Christianity Today, there are 400 pastors, elders, and church staff members on that list that probably resigned yesterday.
What would happen to us if all of the sins in OUR closets suddenly saw the light of day? What if we were called out publicly for all the wrong things we have done? It wouldn't be pretty. Marriages might come to an end, jobs lost, family relationships terminated. Are you carrying such a burden with you today?
I can tell you from personal experience that there is nothing like having such a burden lifted from your shoulders. To be forgiven of our sins is a HUGE weight-lifting moment. I pray that you all have had that life-altering experience. Have you? I hope so.
If you have not asked Jesus into your life, please do so today and experience what a life-changing, burden-lifting request that can be. We are not saved by being baptized as a baby. We are not saved by trying to be as good as we can be. We ALL live lives we are not proud of. None of us has attained that "dream life" we all thought we wanted. But we CAN live a life devoted to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Come to Him today. Repent of your sins, pledge your life to our righteous King and feel the weight removed from your shoulders, from your heart, and from your soul.
"19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Forgiveness - TobyMac & Lecrae
My Pastor Is On The Ashley Madison List - Ed Stetzer, Christianity Today
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