So how many of us have done this?  Seriously… I know there have been some times where I have done this exact thing.  Some times, I am just so tired of dealing with mess that I am content to just stare at it.  After all, that is a lot easier than actually dealing with the mess. However, we all know that eventually we have to deal with the mess.  If we just leave it there, it will build and build until it overwhelms us.  At that point, we can’t even deal with it without help.  So now, our mess isn’t just our problem, but someone else’s too.  For some of us, having to call for help to clean up our mess would be mortifying.  But if we don’t do it, the mess will just get bigger and bigger until it effects our health. (I’m picturing that Hoarders show on the TV where people never get rid of anything and they are literally wallowing in filth.)

Sin can be just as damaging to our lives. At first, the sin may not seem like a big deal and we just ignore it.  Or maybe we know we need to deal with it, but it is just too hard.  Sometimes we decide that we will do it later, but later never comes.  But just like the messy house, knowing the sin is there and doing nothing about it will lead to bigger and bigger problems. Not only will it lead to bigger problems, but it is unBiblical to not deal with it.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:1-17 ESV

Notice the passage says that we, as believers in Jesus, are to put to death the sin in our lives.  Not stare at it, not deal with it later, not try to hide it… put it to death. When the Holy Spirit shows us the sin in our lives, we need to immediately repent and stop our sin.  Is it a difficult sin?  Seek help if needed.  Find an accountability partner. Set up boundaries.  Do whatever you need to do in order to stop sinning. 

Sin separates us from God.  It puts a barrier between him and us.  The only thing that can remove that barrier is repentance.  Yes, sin is hard to deal with. However, it is not enough to just know the sin is wrong.  We have to deal with it.  God will help us, but we have to take the first steps.  Those steps are to recognize the sin and repent of the sin.  From there, through prayer, the Holy Spirit will guide us to what we need to do.  For some, the sin may be gone from their lives at that moment.  For others, the temptation will linger and they will need extra help.  Either way, having a restored relationship with Jesus is worth the extra hard work!

Do you have any sin in your life that you haven’t dealt with?  Spend a moment asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any unresolved sin.

If sin was revealed to you, spend some time in the word reading about what God says about that sin.  (use OpenBible.info/topics and put your sin in the search bar)

Pray about the sin, asking for forgiveness and setting your mind/heart to not continue in that sin. 

If needed, write down some boundaries to help keep yourself from temptation.

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