““All the words of my mouth are in righteousness (upright, in right standing with God); There is nothing contrary to truth or perverted (crooked) in them. 9“They are all straightforward to him who understands [with an open and willing mind], And right to those who find knowledge and live by it. 10“Take my instruction rather than [seeking] silver, And take knowledge rather than choicest gold, 11For wisdom is better than rubies; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.”

Proverbs 8:8-11 AMP

I have heard it said that the world is so open minded that their brains are falling out! The world is calling out for us to have an open and willing mind about sin. The Scripture here is calling the believer to have an open and willing mind about the issues of righteousness. Man has no need of an education of sin. Sin is inherited through the flesh at birth. It is as though we come preprogrammed to sin! In the book of Psalms King David wrote about his own struggle with sin.

“I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness; In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful]. 6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.”

Psalm 51:5-6 AMP

The King was not trying to make an excuse about his behavior and blame someone else. He takes the responsibility squarely on his shoulders.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt And cleanse me from my sin. 3For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; My sin is always before me.4Against You, You only, have I sinned And done that which is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak [Your sentence] And faultless in Your judgment.”

Psalms 51:1-4 AMP

Since we have this sin nature at work within us, we must make a conscious choice to consider God’s ways. It means stepping down off the pedestal of lordship of my life and submit to a higher authority, His Word! The Apostle Paul talked about this struggle in his own life also,

“We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am a creature of the flesh [worldly, self-reliant–carnal and unspiritual], sold into slavery to sin [and serving under its control]. 15For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness–my sinful capacity].”

Romans 7”14-15 AMP

“So I find it to be the law [of my inner self], that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature], 23but I see a different law and rule of action in the members of my body [in its appetites and desires], waging war against the law of my mind andsubduing me and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is within my members. 24Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]” 

Romans 7:21-24 AMP

None of us are exempt from the corruption of sin that lies within us. The saying “there but the grace of God go I” is exactly true! Paul answers his own question about how to defeat the draw if sin in life, in verse 25, “Thanks be to God (for my deliverance) through Jesus Christ our Lord!…”

Let me encourage you today to fall wholly on the grace of God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you into the image of Christ that those who see you give glory to God! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken