Good morning,
This devotion is a warning to all of us. We easily discount little sins. The fact is that little sins become big sins eventually.
It is but a little sin!
(Thomas Brooks)
“So that Satan will not outsmart us–for we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11
“Ah!” says Satan, “It is but a little sin–a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one.”
But there is great danger, yes, many times most danger, in the smallest sins.
Greater sins sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul–until they come to be so strong as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul!
Little sins multiplied, become great sins. There is nothing less than a grain of sand, yet there is nothing heavier than the sand of the sea when multiplied.
Little sins are very dangerous!
A little leaven, leavens the whole lump.
A little hole in the ship, sinks it.
A small breach in a dyke, carries away all before it.
A little stab at the heart, kills a man.
Many are eternally undone by the ‘little sins’, as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms.
A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will damn a man!
If the serpent sneaks in his head, he will draw in his whole body after him!
Though the scorpion is little, yet will it sting a lion to death!
Just so, a little sin may at once bar the door of Heaven, and open the gates of Hell!
The least sin is contrary . . .
to the law of God,
to the nature of God,
to the being of God,
and to the glory of God!
Therefore it is often punished severely by God.
The least sin will damn us–if not pardoned by the death of Christ!
~ ~ ~ ~
John Flavel:
Perhaps the smallness of the sin is urged as a reason why you may commit it: “It is . . .
but a little sin,
but a small matter,
but a trifle!”
But, if you commit this little sin–you will offend a great God! Is there any little Hell to torment little sinners in? No! The least sinners in Hell are full of misery! There is great wrath treasured up for those whom the world regard as little sinners.
The less the sin–the less the inducement you should have to commit it. Will you provoke God for a trifle? Will you destroy your peace, wound your conscience, and grieve the Spirit–all for nothing? What madness is this!
~ ~ ~ ~
We should not trifle with sin. None!
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Do we choose to sin and suffer eternal death in hell or to obey and have eternal life in heaven?
It is our choice.
Choose life!
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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