KARI'S LESSON ON SIN

 

Eight-year-old Kari got off the church van and came running in to her Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Miller. Kari said to her, "Mrs. Miller, you told us last week that we should always confess our sins to God."

 

"That's right, Kari," Mrs. Miller answered.  "We should admit to God when we've done something wrong and ask Him to forgive us.  God promises that when we do that, He is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9).

 

"I have a problem," Kari said.  "I try to think about what sins I've done so I can confess them to God, but I can't think of any sins I've done." 

 

Mrs. Miller looked at young Kari with a surprised look on her face.  She said, "I don't have that problem.  I'm constantly having to ask God to forgive me for something."

 

"Really?" Kari asked.  "But you never say bad words or get angry with us.  You never steal things from the store or cheat when we play games."

 

"Well," said Mrs. Miller, "The sins I have to confess to God most often are not sins that most people see.  The sins I have to confess to God most are sins that others may not even know about -- sins like thinking a wrong thought about someone or feeling prideful about something I've done, or even being selfish with my time and not doing what I know I should."

 

Kari's eyes got big and wide.  She asked, "Do you mean that sometimes we sin by NOT doing something?"

 

"That's right, Kari," said Mrs. Miller.  "Sometimes we sin by DOING something we shouldn't have done.  Sometimes we sin by NOT doing what we should have done." 

 

"Do you mean things like seeing my old neighbor raking his leaves, and I know I should go help him, but I keep on watching TV instead?  Is that sin?" asked Kari.

 

"Yes," replied Mrs. Miller, nodding her head.

 

"Wow!" said Kari.  "I guess I won't have any trouble thinking of sins from now on.  I sin a lot more than I thought I did.  I need to confess those sins and ask God to help me not to do them anymore."

 

Kari learned a valuable lesson about sin that day.  God knows all about our sins -- the sins we DO and the sins we DON'T DO, the sins you can SEE and the sins only God knows about in our THOUGHTS and our ATTITUDES.  The good news is, you can have your sins forgiven.

 

If you know Jesus as your Savior, then 1 John 1:9 says to "confess your sins."  With a sincere heart, admit to God your sin and ask Him to forgive you.  He promises to forgive you.

 

If there's never been a time in your life when you've personally accepted Jesus as your Savior, then that is the place to start.  Jesus died on the cross and gave His precious blood to take your punishment for sin and then rose from the dead 3 days later.  If you believe Jesus did that for you, then you can invite Jesus to come into your heart and to be your Savior.  When you do that, He forgives all your sins.

 

Kari's lesson is a lesson for you, too.  The Bible says clearly that we are all sinners -- "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).  What are you going to do about your sin???

 

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