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READ: John 5:1-15
LISTEN: John 5

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” John 5:14

Jesus heals a man who was disabled for thirty-eight years. A little later, he finds the man again, this time in the temple. It’s an interesting exchange. Jesus points out that the man is indeed healed. Then, Jesus tells him to stop sinning or something bad might happen. It’s like Jesus is saying, “You have a new shot at life. Please don’t waste it.” He wants what is best for the man. Jesus knows sin only destroys; it doesn’t bring life. He wants the man to truly live. It’s a warning, but a warning out of love.

It can be easy for us to forget about the dangers of sin. We excuse our sin as “not that serious.” But sin is destructive. As Jesus warned this man, sin brings harm. It harms our character. It harms our relationships and our future. That’s not what Jesus wants for us. Jesus says he wants us to live life to the full (John 10:10). The full life can only be found through the way of Jesus. The path to true life is found in the Bible. The God of the universe, the one who created us, has told us the best way to live. Not to control us but to offer us true life.

TODAY: Confess the sins you do not take seriously. Admit to God the danger of sin. Acknowledge that it can be easy to just excuse your sin and ask for forgiveness. Come up with a plan to turn from sin and invite the Holy Spirit to help you follow Jesus’s instructions instead.