Tag Archives: Well-being

Sin Is

Living in the Spirit

October 26, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 32:1-7
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
   whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
   and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
   through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
   my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
   and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
   and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all who are faithful
   offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
   shall not reach them.
You are a hiding-place for me;
   you preserve me from trouble;
   you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

Sin is a transgression of religious law: an offense against God*.

Sin is missing the mark. who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (II Timothy 3:7)

Sin is being separated from God.

Sin is A condition of dreadful estrangement from God, the sole source of well-being**.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/sin

**The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, page 361

Most people of faith in God may consider sin as the dictionary describes it breaking religious laws. We get more serious about missing the mark or being separated from God. But I had never considered sin as dreadful estrangement from God who is the sole source of well-being. That just makes me want to cry. God wants the very best for all of God’s children as the sole source of well-being. That is something to meditate about.

Prayer: Lord, help us recognize your love in our lives and know you as our source of well-being. Protect us from those who try to divide us from your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Living in the Spirit
August 22, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 84

Even the sparrow finds a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
   my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
   ever singing your praise. –Psalm 84:3-4

The word translated “happy” here could also be translated as “blessed”. I think it fits the Merriam-Webster* definition of having the feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being. The song, It is Well with My Soul** captures the idea.

 When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

 The challenge is to make this sense of well-being our steady state through good times and bad. When we rest in the love of God we are much better prepared to deal with the trials of our lives. Jesus dedicated time to be nurtured by God and his Disciples made a point of recording that fact in the stories they left for us in the scriptures. When the inevitability of evil seems to surround us, we need to remember to be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10) and nothing else really matters.

Prayer: Lord, be my river of peace when I grow weary of life’s challenges. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Happy
**Verses one and two of the hymn It is Well with my Soul by Audrey Assad see at https://www.google.com/search?q=it+is+well+with+my+soul+lyrics&oq=i+si+well+with+&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.5456j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.