A Christian doctor had tried to witness to a very moral woman who belonged to a church that denied the need for salvation and the reality of future judgment. “God loves me too much to condemn me,” the patient would reply. “I cannot believe that God would make such a place as a lake of fire.”

The woman became ill and the doctor discovered that cancer had attacked her body. An operation was necessary. “I wonder if I really should operate,” the doctor said to her in her hospital room. “I really love you too much to cut into you and give you pain.” “Doctor,” said the patient, “if you really loved me, you would do everything possible to save me. How can you permit this awful thing to remain in my body?”

It was easy then for him to explain that what cancer is to the body, sin is to the world; and both must be dealt with radically and completely. Just as a physician cannot love health without hating disease and dealing with it, so God cannot love righteousness without hating sin and judging it. In fact, God demands radical surgery when a Christian sins: He commands, “Cut it out!”

Today’s verse: “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I wall confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

Other verses: Psalms 41:4; 51:2-5; 69:5; Luke 15:17-21; 1 John 1:8-10.

Action assignment: Talk to God and ask Him to enable you to first of all recognize sin in your life, and then to “cut it out.”

Warren W. Wiersbe
www.backtothebible.in