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Mornings With Jesus
Mornings With Jesus
Kick it to the Curb! | Joshua Scott Zeitz
Grace doesn't erase consequences. This powerful truth lies at the heart of today's candid exploration of sin's lasting impact on our lives.
Drawing from his dramatic testimony of transformation that began in a jail cell, Joshua Scott Zeitz reveals the hard-won wisdom that took years to fully grasp: while God forgives completely, the ripple effects of our choices continue long after repentance. As he vulnerably shares, "I had to learn this the hard way. Before I met Jesus, I was a total mess. I made so many horrible and wicked decisions that followed me well up into my adult years, decisions that not only affected me on a personal level but also had an impact on those around me, like my wife and children."
Joshua carefully balances this sobering reality with the assurance of God's unconditional forgiveness, referencing 1 John 1:9 and the parable of the prodigal son. Yet he cautions against what he calls "slippery grace"—the dangerous notion that we can sin freely, ask forgiveness, and escape consequences entirely. "Sin is fun for a season," he warns, "but afterwards there's hell to pay." This isn't about God withholding forgiveness, but rather about the connected nature of life itself.
The good news? No matter your past, you can begin sowing different seeds today. Whether your testimony involves a dramatic conversion or years of regrettable choices, this moment presents an opportunity to position yourself for a magnificent harvest through better decisions. Take your first step away from the edge of temptation and toward the abundant life God designed for you. Subscribe now for more daily encouragement on living a purposeful, Christ-centered life.
Hello and welcome to Mornings with Jesus, your daily dose of encouragement. I am your host, joshua Scott Zeitz. It's day six of sin week, and at this point we have covered where sin came from, why it's so dangerous, why it's so addictive, and I've even shared a few tips on how to avoid it. Today, I wanted to take a moment to tell you why this topic is so close to my heart. I have shared glimpses of my testimony on Mornings with Jesus already, and what a powerful story it is of how God found me in a jail cell and radically changed my life. However, what many people don't realize, what I never realize is that sin and the choices we make have a lasting impact. Sure, god can and will deliver us in a moment, if we allow him to. He will pull us out of the miry pit and set our feet upon the rock. Yet the Bible is very clear Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.
Speaker 0:Unfortunately, it took me years to finally begin wrapping my mind and heart around this truth. I was always of the assumption that I could sin, ask God's forgiveness and then just act as if nothing ever happened. This just simply isn't the case, and let me explain why. Life is connected and the choices we make today will not only directly affect our tomorrow, but also those around us. For me personally, I had to learn this the hard way. Before I met Jesus, I was a total mess. I made so many horrible and wicked decisions that followed me well up into my adult years, decisions that not only affected me on a personal level but also had an impact on those around me, like my wife and children.
Speaker 0:Now listen. Before we go any further, let me just say this the Bible teaches forgiveness for the Christian 100%. 1 John 1.9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That is awesome news. Many of us are also familiar with the prodigal son returning and how the father in the story was a type of God. He ran to the son and threw the garment around his neck and threw a huge party for him upon his return. The Bible also says God's mercies are new every morning and great is his faithfulness. So I don't want you to hear that God is in the business of leaving us in our muck and mire and making us find our own way out. He is a redeemer. He is a God of second chances and a million chances when we return to him with humility. With all that said, however, we must not be deceived into thinking that the Bible teaches any sort of slippery grace, the type of grace that says be you, be happy, do whatever makes you feel good and then simply ask forgiveness later. This is erroneous thinking and teaching and it's a huge snare of the enemy.
Speaker 0:I've had people tell me so many times I wish I had your testimony, or wow, that is an amazing testimony. My response is this yes, it is, but I would much rather have had a testimony that involved giving my life to Jesus at an early age, learning to listen to God's voice from day one and walking in obedience to him. The great news is this, however we can make the choice today to begin sowing good seeds and position ourselves to receive a great harvest. How do we do that? By finally coming to our senses and kicking sin to the curb, by purposing in our hearts and minds once and for all that we are done riding the fence. We are finished with. Trying to see how close to the edge of temptation we can go without falling in.
Speaker 0:Sin is fun for a season, but afterwards there's hell to pay. Life is connected. I've made so many dumb decisions apart from God's wisdom, his word and listening to my own reasons and justifications rather than his still small voice. But praise the Lord for his long suffering, else I would have been wiped away a long time ago. Be encouraged today, no matter what kind of testimony you have, no matter what you've done today. No matter what kind of testimony you have, no matter what you've done, good or bad, you can start right now sowing good seeds and begin today to position yourself to receive a magnificent harvest. Remember until next time what you make happen for others, god will make happen for you.
