Guilty

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Leviticus 5:17 Being Held Responsible

If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. Leviticus 5:17

When something good is going on, people like to be responsible for it. They like to take credit for doing good, whether it is something small or great.

On the flipside, when something negative is occurring, most people do not like to take any responsibility for it. Very few people want to admit that they did something wrong and will do everything they can to blame it on someone else or some other circumstance.

God told the people that if anyone sins against God, even if the sin was not known by the person, he will be guilty and held responsible.

Prior to being a believer, a person does not know what is or is not a sin. He is just living life in the only way he knows how to live.

Once becoming a believer, he begins to understand what sin is and does his best to avoid it. However, even as a believer, one does not always know what is a sin and what is not. As one grows and matures in the Lord, he learns more and more of what God expects of him, what is sin and what is not.

Regardless of whether one knows whether something is a sin or not, he will still be held responsible by God for his actions. Once he understands that something was a sin, he must be willing own it, instead of blaming others, and to repent of it and seek God’s forgiveness.

God is ready and willing to forgive anyone of any sins. The only way He can forgive is when the person chooses to own up to the sin and repent of it.

No matter how long you have been a believer, there will be times you will sin against God. Do not allow yourself to blame others or circumstances for your sins. No one or nothing can make you sin. It was you who chose to do the sin, not someone else.

The moment you realized that you had chosen to step into sin, change your heart and repent of it before God. He is ready to forgive you of your sins the moment you repent.

Ask God to reveal to you any hidden sins in your life and repent of them.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will allow God to show you any sin in your life; that you will repent from your heart of any sin against God; and that God will strengthen you to be responsible for your choices.

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Genesis 42:22 There Will Be An Accounting

Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” Genesis 42:22

Believing that one has the freedom to do whatever he wants and get away with it is common among most people. This belief increases when something is done in secret, and it is as though no one could possibly know about it.

Everyday people all over the world are doing things that should not be done. At the same time, people all over the world are being convicted daily of things that they have done in secret.

As Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to get food, they were treated harshly in Egypt. Reuben recognizes that this harsh treatment must be for how they sold Joseph into slavery.

Everything that is said or done has consequences that a person must be willing to give an account for, a reason for doing. This accounting may occur quickly, or it may take years before it occurs. It may occur with other people on this earth, but it will occur some day when one stands before God in heaven.

While some things have good consequences, there are other things that have negative consequences. God will reward every good deed that a person does in this life. At the same time, He will also punish every sin that has been done and not repented of in this life.

The first choice every believer should make is to choose God’s way of acting and speaking. He must be willing to do the right thing.

In times of making the wrong choice, the believer must be quick to repent of it and turn from that sin. As soon as one repents, God is willing to forgive, no longer requiring an accounting for the sin.

Most likely you have made choices in your past that you will have to give an accounting for someday. The world may or may not ever know about what you have done, but God does.

Go to God in repentance of anything that you have done that was sinful and repent. Allow Jesus to remove that sin and give you a clean slate for the accounting.

Do not allow that sin to remain ‘hidden’ until the day you must account for it and find yourself guilty of sin with a judgement of death.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will strive to live by God’s commands; that you will let God guide your every choice of action; that you will repent of all sins before God; and that God will not have to draw you into a day for accounting for sin.

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Luke 13:4-5 Repent Or Perish

Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:4-5

It is easy for people to point fingers at others and say they are more guilty. People like to see others pay for their crimes or things that they have done wrong, while thinking that they are much better.

Comparing what one person has done with what one’s own self has done happens all the time. It helps people feel a false sense of better about themselves.

Jesus tells of how some people had died when a tower crashed on them. Some people felt that those people were more guilty of sins than they were. Jesus said everyone is the same and without repentance, all will perish.

When natural disasters occur and people suffer or die, many in the church will quickly say that they had it coming due to sin. Often fingers are pointed out to their sins, and not looking at what they have done themselves that deserves punishment.

People are quick to overlook or forget about their own personal sins, when looking at the sins of others. They like to see judgement upon others.

One thing that every person must understand is that regardless of what one has done, if one does not repent, he will die in sins and be condemned for eternity. Repentance is a being sorrow for sin committed and turning away from those sins.

God is willing and ready to forgive, but one must repent. Instead of just pointing fingers at the sins in others and thinking that one is better, the believer must realize that he is just as guilty of sins and repent.

You are no more or no less guilty than the most vile sinner that the world has ever produced. As soon as you have sinned once, you are just as guilty as the person who sins continually and rejects God completely.

Disasters will occur to everyone, regardless of how much they sin or don’t sin. The only difference for a believer is if he has repented of sin.

Instead of pointing judgement against others, look at yourself and see if you have repented of your own sins. Be the example you think the world should be when serving God.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will repent before God of all your sins; that you tell others of the need to repent and believe in Jesus; that God will show you your own guilt before Him; and that you will live your life for God.

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Acts 25:7 Unprovable Charges

When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. Acts 25:7

Every day courts across the nation are filled with people being tried for many different things. The goal of the courts is supposed to be to seek the truth of a given situation and judge accordingly.

In every court case there is one side that tells the truth and one side that is telling a lie, one innocent and one guilty. No one really wants to be on the guilty side.

Paul was in court being tried. Those who were accusing him had brought many different charges against him, but none were able to be proven true. Paul was found to be innocent.

The world does not like believers and will often do what it can to destroy one. Following the ways of their leader, Satan, the world will cast many accusations against a believer.

Sadly, over the years there have been many believers who have been guilty of what was said. Believers guilty of embezzlement, cheating, lying, adultery, and much more.

Every believer should be living their lives in such a way that the world will be unable to accuse them of any wrongdoing. The world should be unable to prove any charges of doing wrong in the life of a believer.

When a believer is living his life as pure and holy, like that of Christ, Satan will be unable to prove any charges against him. The only charges a believer should be guilty of is doing what God wants done that is against the ways of the world. As long as it does not break God’s laws, one should never break the laws of man.

Each and every day you have a choice as to how you will live your life. You can live your life as the world lives, in sin and falsehood. Or you can live your life like that of Jesus, pure and holy.

The world is watching you and is waiting to accuse you of something. Live your life in such a way that the world can throw many accusations against you, but none of them can be proven.

Let your life be a witness of who God is to this dark and fallen world. Let the world be amazed when they cannot prove anything wrong against you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that God will guide you on how to live your life; that you will live a holy life as Jesus was holy; and that the world will be unable to prove any wrongdoing by you.

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Daniel 6:5 Can They Find Charges Against You?

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Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:5 

In the political realm, people are always trying to find something wrong with their opponent. They want to show that the opponent is not worthy of his position. Searches into the person’s past is done deeply, trying to find some incriminating evidence of wrongdoing.

Finding garbage in someone’s past is usually fairly easy. Very few people strive to live a life that is above reproach. Most do not really care about what they say or do in the moment. It is only later when they are being tried in a negative way about the situation that they care.

Some leaders of Persia were upset with Daniel. He had the king’s favor and made them look bad, by how good he was doing. They sought to charge him with wrongdoing, but could not find anything wrong.

Very few men are men of true integrity, honor and faithfulness. Most will do what they want, whether it is right or wrong, as long as it benefits them. Behind closed doors many will cheat, lie and steal, while openly say they are against those things.

This type of living can also happen inside the church. Many believers confess in Jesus, but lie, cheat and steal or do some other sin behind closed doors.

Every believer is to live his life in the same way as Jesus did. Jesus came to teach the way to live and be saved. He gave the perfect example of how to live. Even when they wanted to accuse Him of something, no one could do it.

The believer should live his life in a way that the world cannot find any fault in his life.

As you are going through your life, what could people say about you? What charges could they bring against you?

You are not, nor will ever be perfect on this earth, but you should be living your life in a way that strives for that perfection. This is done because of what Jesus has done for you.

Do not allow yourself to live as the world does, stepping into sin and doing wrong. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to guide you and give you strength to live above reproach, so that no one can bring charges against you.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will live as Jesus did; that you will be guided by God’s Holy Spirit; that the world will not be able to find fault with you; and that you will walk in God’s integrity of heart and spirit.