Why do I need to make war on my own sin?
Because this morning I woke up feeling a little sorry for myself, a little bad about what I’ve got to deal with. And I was ready to just let it remain that way.
That is evidence of self-righteousness and self-satisfaction and self-glorification and self-esteem becoming more beautiful and more hopeful and more helpful than Jesus Christ. That could kill me. And my family.
And because of our family circumstances, people are ready to give me a pass on my murmurings, even some Christians.
But we’re called to something more! How many times have people entered into my suffering in my family with prayer and Bible and meals and leaf-raking and conversation and encouragement – pointing me to Jesus? How many times have people acted according to Hebrews 3:12-13 in my life:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
They didn’t obey God and enter my suffering just so I could passively sit around and let that hardening take hold and begin to kill me.
So, I’m grateful for reminders like this.
The Works of God 
Oh my, brother, what a timely word for me this morning, as I prepare to preach on John 7:53-8:11. “…Go and sin no more.”
Thank you for this, John!
Thanks John. My husband and I really like the song that Tedashii did called Make War. If you haven’t heard it, I’m sure you could totally appreciate it. Piper is at the very beginning of it —> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZoSiDDja0Y Enjoy!