Daily Devotional

Sin rarely seems like it happens overnight. Sure, a sinful act happens in a moment, but there’s always a backstory, there’s always more to it than just the individual act. Sinful action is the symptom of a drift in the wrong direction. I don’t think anyone ever makes a decision to embezzle money all of the sudden, or rob a bank, or cheat on a spouse. I think it happens over time. If the sinful action is step Z, there were steps A–Y that led there.

Basically, what I’m saying is sin is a process, but so is sanctification. Little by little we can move away from God or closer to God. It doesn’t happen all at once, but slowly over time.

I’ll give you a silly, yet I think appropriate example. I drink a lot of flavored bubbly water and just about zero soda. If you went back to 10 years ago, you’d see the opposite ratio. I remember the first time I drank bubbly water; I thought it was terrible. Now? I love it! What happened? Over time I adjusted to it. Now, soda tastes way too sweet to me, there’s even some bubbly waters that I’ve tried and think they are too sweet and there’s not even sugar in them. If you were to tell me 10 years ago that that would happen, I wouldn’t have believed you, but like I said, things happen gradually over time.

If yourself from 10 years ago saw you today, would that version of you be surprised with the sin you allow in your life? Or surprised by how much closer you’ve gotten to Jesus? I don’t think either direction happens by leaps, but by steps. Each day we move one direction or the other.

Today, tomorrow, the next day how can you take steps in the right direction?

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.