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It is not about you - By Joanna Sell
Sin. That is an extremely powerful word in my opinion. So powerful it makes me shudder to think how much of it I actually do! I am calling myself out right now.... If I were to actually sit down and think of all the times I sin during a week, I would be extremely disappointed in myself. Even worse, to think of how disappointed God is in me!
I used to think of the word sin in a Ten Commandments sort of way. As long as I am not committing murder, adultery etc., I am a good Christian! Bam! Going to heaven! But I think any action or words we use against God's way for us is a sin. The little white lie we tell someone to avoid confrontation. Judging others and forming opinions based on the way someone looks. An addiction we choose to place value over everything  else. Speaking about someone in an unkind way. These are all sins because God would not want us to do any of these things.
It is also not our job to go out looking for others' sins, hoping to catch them doing something wrong. As it states in the verse; dealing with sin is not about punishing the guilty. The priority is reconciliation. Moving toward making things right again and getting that person back to where they should be. Helping the one who has fallen to the side get back where they belong.
"But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted" in the opening of this chapter is crucial, because if you surround yourself with those who sin it can bring you to a place in which you too can be a sinner. I sometimes get myself into a situation when I am around people who don't quite have the same values and beliefs I do. Maybe use choice words that I shouldn't, speak too negatively about others. It can rub off and bring me to place that I don't want to be in. Then I sit back and wonder why I am grumpy or feeling like I am in a bad mood all the time. I have to get myself out of the rut, spend time away from the negative influences to get me back on the path I need to be on.
Another part of this verse that sticks out to me is: "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." If your walk in faith is self-serving, you're in trouble. If you live life for your own benefit and your expressions of faith have selfish desire behind them, it's all going to go sour, in a New York minute! The Christian walk is not about you. Yes, God loves you, and pours himself out for you, to redeem you and reconcile you to himself. But the life you live now is not your own.
 The relationship I continue to build with God is a slow process. A lifelong process. I learn new ways to be closer to him all the time which I am appreciative of. I try to surround myself with people who support me in making good decisions and bring my relationship to the next level. I educate myself as much as possible on the Bible and want to listen to those much wiser than me when they talk about their path with our heavenly Father. The more I do these things, the more I notice God present in my life. My relationship with God can be messy and challenging. Trusting God to see me through the mess is what I continue to work on.
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