My personal sins do not hurt anyone else but me.
Is the above statement true or false?
On the one hand, our personal sins do hurt us individually by hindering our fellowship and relationship with God. But we have to also remember that sin is rebellion against God and His ways. The prophet Samuel said to King Saul:
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry… (1 Samuel 15:23)
Our sins – hidden or open – empower the god of this world through its powers of witchcraft and divination. Plus, our stubbornness to hold onto our personal sins by not repenting of them may eventually cause the sin to move into the highest rank of wickedness: iniquity. This hideous sin is the one that forces God to eventually judge a nation when it hits a certain measure of wickedness.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)
Remember: we all struggle with sin and our old sin nature. This is an everyday battle for all of us. But as long as we hate our sins and continue to cry out to God for His mercy and grace to help us rid ourselves of whatever sins we struggle with, He is faithful to do just that.
My prayer today:
Lord, open the eyes of American believers and show us who we are empowering with our actions and words, whether it’s You or the god of this world.
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for American believers’ eyes to be opened.
Larry Who 
Sin is a matter, literally, of “missing the mark” – of hitting off target. This suggests that there is an aim to life, a particular direction that counts as GOOD and where all others are bad (perhaps to varying degrees (a debate for another time)).
We are created to bear God’s image and thereby rule the world (Gen. 1:26). Sin tarnishes the image (if not outright destruction). The world looks to us hoping to see God (Romans 8)… the creation is burdened with birth pangs awaiting the revelation of the sons of God. But creation cannot see God when we sin.
So, yeah… personal sin hurts the whole world. Sin breaks Shalom, which is world wide peace – harmonious peace. We all suffer from this sin, personal or public. I mean, just eating fruit from the wrong tree… seems so insignificant at one level – in fact at most levels. But it kicks off every single PROBLEM we face in the world today.
Yes.
Sin matters.
btw…
I carry a burden in my heart for you.
Almost six months ago, at Christmas time, I posted about my Christmas experience and referenced a moment in the psych ward where I coaxed a timid psych patient to sing O Holy Night on the smokers patio in the freezing cold of night on Christmas Eve on year. You suggested there was more to that story and I always thought I would get around to sharing some more in regard to that. But I have never found the words… Don’t know why. Wish I could have hosted you there for it. It was a special tender moment as we all suffered illness, loneliness, and being away from home for the holidays together. There was this miraculous serendipity. This timid woman singing in angelic voice as HEAVEN opened up and hosted us to a Christmas miracle – just a small one – for the broken contrite hearts of a psych ward at Christmas time.
I sensed then that you had a deep appreciation for that. One which perhaps most people don’t. And I wish I could share more of it with you, but I don’t know how.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I have not forgot that connection it made with you. And as we move into June, now, it still burdens me.
God bless you, Larry.
Agent X,
A timid woman singing with an angelic voice sounds to me like the kingdom of God came near that night. It’s a great story. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.