Daily Bread Logo by Charlie Darnell

GOD’S WORD DAILY

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 83                                                             OCTOBER 24, 2001

WORD OF THE DAY:

     BE NOT PARTAKERS
     IN ANOTHER'S SIN

 

     Yesterday we looked at being wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
     Snakes are very alert to danger and are astute at avoiding it. Today we
     look at this concept in practical application.

 

1 Timothy 5:22

          Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be
          partaker [to share with others] of other men's sins:
          keep[guard, keep your eye on, hold fast] thyself pure.

 

     Let us be wise as serpents, on guard to keep pure. That way we will
     neither participate in other men's and women's sins, nor consent to them.
     We will see it coming and avoid the sin. We will keep pure and unmixed
     from the sins of others.

 

     Psalm 1:1, 2

          Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of
          the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor
          sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

          But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his
          law doth he meditate day and night.

     Proverbs 1:10

          My son, if sinners entice thee, consent [breathe after,
          to be acquiescent, to be willing] thou not.

 

     Jesus ate with sinners. What's up with that? Doesn't that contradict Psalms
     and Proverbs? No, it does not, because Jesus ministered to and loved people.
     He met them where they were. However, Jesus did not participate in the
     sins of others. He kept himself pure. He did not consent to their sins. He
     inspired others to rise up to the Word and live it too, by His faithful example
     and with His love. [The goodness of God leads us to repentance.]

 

     Luke 15:2

          And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying,
          This man receives [admits, hospitality, awaits with
          confidence and patience] sinners, and eats with them.

 

     We need to respond to sinners like Jesus did: with love and purity. He did
     not participate in others' sins, but rejoiced when the lost were found!

     The Pharisees were critical of the sinners and of Jesus who loved them and
     ministered to them. Immediately after this verse, Jesus taught the Pharisees
     with three parables:

 

  1. The parable of the lost sheep in the wilderness. [Luke 15:5-7]
  2. The parable of the woman who lost her piece of silver. [Luke 15:8-10]
  3. The parable of the prodigal son [better noted for the forgiving father].
         [Luke 15:11-32]

     

         He taught the Pharisees to be glad and rejoice that those who were dead
         are now alive, and that who were lost are now found!

         In conclusion, we are wise as serpents to avoid other men's sins. We keep
         ourselves pure by staying on watch and by holding fast the Word in our minds.
         But let's keep sinners in proper perspective. We do not want to be critical and
         condemn sinners like the Pharisees did. Its OK to eat with, minister to and
         lovingly inspire sinners to come back to God. It is not OK to participate in
          their sins. That is what Jesus did. Let's do likewise! Amen!

         -Carol Kenreigh

     

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    O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee. Ps. 63:1

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