THE SMALL STUFF

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Richard Carlson wrote a book with that title some years back and on many levels the title and the content make sense. We shouldn’t allow the little annoyances of life to dictate our moods or our happiness. Sometimes we do let things like a wait in the drive thru, an ill-timed traffic jam or an unexpected shower on our picnic to derail a whole day. We need to be more patient and understanding when it comes to those little inconveniences.

But Pastor Brent of AHOP made an interesting little point in his talk yesterday. He reminded all of us that we need to be careful of those “SMALL SINS” in our lives. In other words little sins ARE “SMALL STUFF we SHOULD sweat.”

And I see where he is coming from!

A little thorn can cause much suffering. A small cloud may hide the sun. Tiny foxes spoil the vineyards; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart.

Song of Solomon 2:15

…the little foxes that ruin the vineyards

These small sins burrow in the soul and fill it with what is counter to Christ. Little sins interrupt and introduce strain to an otherwise comfortable fellowship with Jesus. Little sins are like bacteria or mold. They can sour our spirituality or spoil our walk in no time at all.

And while no sin has the power to overwhelm us…

(1 John 4:4

…who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.)

…the erosion caused by our “little sins” can make things miserable and unsettling for sure.

So we need to be on the lookout for these little sins, we need to SWEAT this type of “small stuff”.

Watch for them.

Maybe there is a little gossip about a co-worker circulating the office. Avoid it!

Maybe a little white lie would serve your immediate purpose. Try the truth instead.

Maybe that little harmless flirtation you have been entertaining wants to go to the next level. End it.

GOD wants us to be “all in” with Him, even when it comes to the “small stuff”.

Remember that old saying? “The devil is in the details?” Well that applies here. The devil is cunning and sneaky in his approach as well as incredibly patient. If he can get you to ignore those “little sins”, those cute little foxes, those details, he will methodically chip away at your relationship with Jesus. And any sin left unchecked can be devastating!

James 1:15

Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

So be careful today my friends and keep an eye out and an ear perked for those little foxes; those small sins.

1 John 3:5

…sin is a major disruption of God’s order... No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin.

Not even “small ones”.

I love you all…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney