Temptation doesn’t care how long we’ve been Christians

Tom Harper Sept. 9, 2024

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If you're a believer, struggling with sin is a lifelong challenge. I may sin less, but I'll never be sinless in this body.

In fact, I thought something I shouldn't have today. Well, let's be blunt. I sinned and felt shame, because I knew God was watching.

I got mad at myself. I pictured God getting mad at me, too. I suddenly didn't feel as close to him.

It wasn't until I grieved over my sin and humbly asked my heavenly Father for forgiveness that I felt our fellowship restored.

Please don't misunderstand—I didn't suddenly lose my salvation over a sin.

It was that I had hurt my loving Father, who had sent his Son to die for me—that's how much he loves me! How could I willfully do something to offend someone who adores me (and you) so fiercely?

Have you done the same thing and felt the same way? There's good news for both of us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

It's more than saying we're sorry. It's confessing what we did and asking him to forgive us. That's what repentance is all about. If we just apologize, it's like a child saying "sorry" with an eye roll and acting out five minutes later.

So as temptation in its many forms reaches its tentacles toward us, let's express godly sorrow—not just make ambivalent apologies.

Because godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (2 Cor. 7:10).

Standing with you,

Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
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Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More »

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