OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TUESDAY 30/07/2013 - SIN IS A BAD PAINTER BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

SIN IS A BAD PAINTER

MEMORY VERSE

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

READ

Mark 2:1-12

Mar 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

Mar 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Mar 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

MESSAGE

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

 Genesis 1:31

The above scripture speaks of the events that occurred at the beginning, when God created the Heaven and earth. He examined all He had made and they were very good. There was no sickness, death, sorrow or lack. All you could find was blessing, fruitfulness, multiplication, longevity, dominion and abundance. But that was before the advent of sin. From Genesis 3:16-19 after man fell, his fall gave rise to several negative things that never existed until then – curses, painful conception and delivery, sorrow, sweat, hardship, etc. What was once very good became very bad when sin came in. There is a link between sin and everything evil. This also tells us that sin can change the colour of events, situations and circumstances from bright and beautiful colours to dark and repulsive ones. Believe it or not, sin paints your today and tomorrow in colours you detest.

Sin is a very powerful force. It is so powerful that it conquered the whole of the human race. It changed the bright and glorious outlook of the earth. According to Psalm 107:17-18 it brought sickness and affliction. Bondage, failure and helplessness also came because of sin (Psalm 107:10-12). What of barrenness and poverty? Psalm 107:33-34 confirms that these came through sin, hence Romans 6:23 concludes that sin always delivers death to the sinners. As powerful as sin is, forgiveness is even much more powerful. When forgiveness comes, it is able to restore the bright pictures of your life, which were once lost to sin. Forgiveness turns the tide of the life and destiny of a sinner. In today's reading, when the paralyzed man was brought before the Lord, He forgave him his sins and thereafter, helplessness, sorrow and sickness disappeared and healing was delivered. Are you in need of a miracle from God but you are still living in sin? Immediately acknowledge your sins, confess them and ask for God's forgiveness, then invite Jesus into your heart.

Prayer Point

Father, every negative colour sin has painted my life and destiny with, change it into something glorious.