Suffering Over Sin

Excerpt of Jerry Bridges book, The Crisis of Caring: 

"...a way by which we may enter into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings is through our resolute response to sin wherever we find it, whether in ourselves or in society around us.  Genesis 6:6 says that because of man's sin, 'The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filed with pain.'  Most of the time we view sin in terms of its effects on us, or our family, or friends, or perhaps on the society around us.  We seldom think of sin in terms of its effect on God.  But sin sorely grieves the heart of God.  Sin is a rejection of His law and a rebellion against His authority, bringing alienation between God and man. 


Take, for example, the problem of abortion.  We tend to view this practice as a crime against society, as the legalized killing of millions of unborn children.  Our concern focuses on the injustice toward those babies and the dehumanizing effect on society as a whole.  But is it not God's heart that is most grieved and filled with pain over this crime?  Is it not His law that is broken and the children created in His image that are killed?  


Missionary statesman Bob Pierce prayed, 'God, break my heart with the things that break your heart.'  Pierce saw the physical suffering of vast multitudes in war-ravaged or famine-stricken countries.  And what do we see?  What is the state of our hearts as we view the sin that is so rampant in our society today?  If Christ grieved over unrepentant Jerusalem, does He not grieve over unrepentant America as well?  If we would fully enter into the fellowship of His sufferings, we must begin to see sin from His point of view.  


How do we view our own sin?  To often we see it in terms of its effect on ourselves.  We are irritated with our lack of self-control in succumbing to some besetting sin, or we are disappointed with ourselves over our failure to withstand some temptation, or we are ashamed that we have failed to do what we should have done.  Our response in all of these situations is basically inward and self-centered.  As we begin to see our sin from God's point of view, however, we will begin to grieve over it as He grieves over it.  As we join in His grief, we will also in this small way enter into the fellowship of His sufferings." 


It is a very great book, you should read it.
 

Have a great rest of your Sunday!