A WORD FOR TODAY, March 6, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, March 6, 2025
“See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him. Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him. Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:1-8, WEB
I know we are already a day into Lent, but I’m still deciding the devotional practices I will follow for the next seven weeks. I’ve already begun a reading plan from our church, and I think I’m going to follow another book that works on body, mind, and spirit as the reader walks with Jesus. As part of this, I am going to try to be more conscious and purposeful with my health, trying some new, focused exercises. I’ve committed to limiting my online activities (I’m trying!) and sweets.
I am also going to be more purposeful about my prayers, especially confession and pondering my sinfulness. After, that’s what Lent is all about, right? I found a website with a reflection that will help guide my prayer time. There are several different focuses, but I’ve decided to do an examination of conscience as related to the seven deadly sins. I will focus one devotion on the sin I’m pondering each week.
The seven deadly sins are pride, envy, sloth, lust, covetousness, gluttony, and anger. I once read an article that suggests that the seven deadly sins, in moderation, are not really all that deadly, and that in some cases they can be good. The article justified the seven by showing ways which those sins can make the world a better place. Andrew Carnegie pursued wealth like a demon, but he used so much of his wealth for altruism that it is seen as something positive. The harm he did to others in pursuit of that wealth is forgotten because he did so much good work with it.
Another example from the article was about the sin of anger. It suggested that it is healthy for a person to take out their anger in some way, particularly on inanimate objects, so that the person does not take it out on an innocent human being. The deadly sin, however, is not simply being mad about something, it is rage. This is anger that takes matters into one’s own hands, like revenge or self-destructiveness. This is a sin because it puts judgment into human hands rather than God’s. Yes, dealing with our anger can be healthy. Jesus got angry. But this kind of anger is a deadly sin because it causes us to turn away from God’s grace, to ignore mercy, and to cause undo harm. The key is learning what these words mean. How are they sins? What is it about our motivation that makes them harmful to others.
I think we must beware of the language we use when talking about sin. Yes, getting angry can be healthy and pursuing wealth for the sake of others is good, but is this what is meant when talking about the deadly sins? We should not try to justify our actions by lessening the reality of their sinfulness. Pride, envy, lust, sloth, covetousness, gluttony, and anger hurt our relationships with other people and thus hurt our relationship with God. Sin is self-focused, and they are deadly because they destroy our spirit.
This week’s sin is pride. What I found interesting about the list of questions from the examination of conscience is that they help us delve more deeply into our motivations and actions. I do not often think of myself as being guilty of these deadly sins until I think about the many ways they can manifest in my life. I don’t think I’m proud; I think I’m pretty humble (which can be a manifestation of pride!) As I read the questions, I found myself often saying, “I don’t do that,” but then I realized from other questions that I am often guilty, that I sin against God and my neighbor with my opinion of myself. Sadly, as I read these questions, I can easily see pride in others, even while I ignore my own. As you read these questions, remember that you are examining yourself, not others. When you judge your neighbor, see it as a mirror into your own soul, and ponder your own sinfulness in light of that judgement. “Yes” to even one of these questions makes you guilty of pride.
Question from the website to ponder: “Pride is an untrue opinion of ourselves, an untrue idea of what we are not.” Have I a superior attitude in thinking, or speaking or acting? Am I snobbish? Have I offensive, haughty ways of acting or carrying myself? Do I hold myself above others? Do I demand recognition? Do I desire to be always first? Do I seek advice? Am I ready to accept advice? Am I in any sense a “bully”? Am I inclined to be “bossy”? Do I speak ill of others? Have I lied about others? Do I make known the faults of others? Do I seek to place the blame on others, excusing myself? Is there anyone to whom I refuse to speak? Is there anyone to whom I have not spoken for a long time? Am I prone to argue? Am I offensive in my arguments? Have I a superior “know-it-all attitude” in arguments? Am I self-conscious? Am I sensitive? Am I easily wounded?
I must confess, these questions really strike deeply in my spirit and give me a purpose for my prayer. “God forgive me for my pride and teach me to truly be humble like Jesus.” Thanks be to God for His mercy, grace, and forgiveness, without which I would be truly lost forever.
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