The Importance of Weeping Over Our Sin

Why We Should Be Weeping Over Our Sin

Do you ever feel the weight of your sin? It's easy to become numb to the things we do wrong, to justify our actions or make excuses. But the reality is that sin is deadly, and it separates us from God.

As believers, we have been saved by the blood of Christ. Our sins are forgiven, and we are made righteous in God's eyes. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent about sin. In fact, we should be weeping over it.

Why? Because sin is an affront to God's holiness. It's a betrayal of the love and grace He has shown us. It's a rejection of His will for our lives. And the consequences of sin are severe.

In this article, we'll explore why we should be weeping over our sin and how we can cultivate a heart of repentance and humility.

The Pervasiveness of Sin

The Bible tells us that sin is pervasive. In James 4:8, we read, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This verse reminds us that sin is not just an occasional slip-up or mistake. It's a part of our nature, and it affects every area of our lives.

Paul writes in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This means that none of us are exempt from sin. We all have a natural inclination towards disobedience and rebellion. And the more we indulge in sin, the more it takes hold of our hearts and minds.

But sin is not just a personal problem. It impacts our relationships with others and with God. In Isaiah 59:2, we read, "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." When we sin, we create a barrier between ourselves and God. We cut ourselves off from the source of life and joy.

The Deadliness of Sin

Sin is not just pervasive; it's deadly. In Romans 6:23, we read, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This verse tells us that the consequences of sin are severe. The ultimate result of sin is death, both physical and spiritual.

But the death that sin brings doesn't just happen at the end of our lives. It's a gradual process that begins the moment we choose to disobey God. In James 1:15, we read, "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." Sin starts as a small seed of desire, but it grows and spreads until it takes over our lives. And the more we indulge in sin, the more it leads us down a path of destruction.

Sin also has a ripple effect on those around us. It can harm our families, our friends, and even our communities. When we choose to sin, we're not just hurting ourselves. We're contributing to a culture of brokenness and pain.

The Holiness of God

So why should we be weeping over our sin? Because sin is an affront to God's holiness. In Isaiah 6:3, we read, "And one called out to another and said, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.'" God is holy. He is perfect in every way. And when we sin, we're rebelling against His perfect will.

We see this in the story of Adam and Eve. When they sinned by eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were not just disobeying a command. They were rejecting God's authority and His goodness. And the consequences of their sin were severe. They were expelled from the Garden of Eden and forced to endure the pain and suffering of a fallen world.

But God's holiness is not just something to be feared. It's also something to be celebrated. When we recognize the holiness of God, we see the depth of His love and grace. We understand that He is not just a distant God, but a personal God who cares for us deeply. And we see that the only way to experience true joy and peace is to live in obedience to Him.

The Call to Repentance

So how do we respond to the reality of our sin and God's holiness? The answer is repentance. In Acts 3:19, we read, "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Repentance means turning away from our sin and turning towards God.

But repentance is more than just saying we're sorry. It's a heart attitude of humility and contrition. In Psalm 51:17, we read, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." When we come to God with a broken and contrite heart, He is faithful to forgive us and restore us.

Repentance also involves a commitment to change. In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist tells the crowds, "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance." This means that our repentance should result in a change in our behavior. We should be actively pursuing righteousness and holiness, and turning away from the things that lead us into sin.

Cultivating a Heart of Repentance

So how do we cultivate a heart of repentance? Here are a few practical steps:

1. Confess your sins.

Don't try to hide your sin or make excuses for it. Instead, bring it to God in confession. In 1 John 1:9, we read, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confession is the first step towards repentance.

2. Meditate on God's Word.

The more we immerse ourselves in God's Word, the more we understand His holiness and our own sinfulness. As we read the Bible, we should ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of our lives that need repentance and change.

3. Pray for a heart of repentance.

We can't cultivate a heart of repentance on our own. We need the Holy Spirit's help. In Psalm 51:10, David prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." We should ask God to give us a heart that is sensitive to sin and quick to repent.

4. Seek accountability.

Find a trusted friend or mentor who can help keep you accountable in your walk with the Lord. Share your struggles with them, and ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable to living a life of repentance and holiness.

Conclusion

We should be weeping over our sin because sin is deadly, pervasive, and an affront to God's holiness. But the good news is that we have been saved by the blood of Christ. When we come to Him in repentance, He is faithful to forgive us and restore us.

Let us cultivate a heart of repentance and humility, recognizing that apart from God, we are lost and broken. And let us live lives that are pleasing to Him, pursuing righteousness and holiness in all that we do.