Day 267, or September the 24th, no such thing
as a little white sin. Our thoughts today are
rooted in Zechariah chapter 5, verse 3. And he
said to me, This is the curse that is going out
over the whole land. For according to what it
says on one side, every thief will be banished,
and according to what it says on the other, everyone
who swears falsely will be banished. First, the
big picture surrounding this verse. Zechariah
continues using visions to communicate with God's
people. One way or another, he is adamant that
all his hearers will hear what God is saying,
and will then repent. He is the penultimate Old
Testament prophet, and senses that time is running
out for God's people, who have resettled into
the land God gave to their ancestors. And now
today's action step. If you were to ask a member
of the public, maybe a neighbour of yours, what
were the worst sins, what do you think they would
say? In his vision today, Zechariah sees a large
scroll, and I do mean large. It is thirty feet
by fifteen feet, which, according to the internet,
is a very popular size for a small leisure swimming
pool. On this giant screen are written some things
that tell the people how much God hates thieves
and liars. I doubt if your neighbour would have
put either of these as number one. They would
probably have topped their list with murder that
very few of us ever come close to committing.
However, we are all guilty of stealing and lying
if we spend just two minutes searching our consciences.
Zechariah tells the people of Judah that God
hates these seemingly small sins because they
create a barrier between God and his children.
If we are only cut off from God by big sins,
most of us will be okay. But when we get down
to theft and lies, then we are all liable to
be guilty. If you are feeling cut off from God,
it could be that it isn't anything big, but some
small thing that needs to be brought to the cross
of Jesus. Anything come to mind? Don't let it
ruin your relationship with Father in Heaven.
Bring it. Leave it. and move on.