Favorite sins

It’s easy to see how some have to give away their “visible” sins.

I recently heard a beautiful, heartfelt testimony of someone who talked about walking away from his life as an alcoholic to make covenants with God.

I’ve listened to a woman share about how physically difficult but mentally easy it was to give up smoking in order to join the church and be baptized.

But… what about the quieter, less obvious sins we each still struggle with?

“What does it mean to overcome the world? … It means being willing to “give away” even our favorite sins.” -President Russell M. Nelson

I’ve been fascinated by that phrase that President Nelson used:

Favorite sins.

Maybe it’s something you know you shouldn’t do, but do anyway.

Maybe it’s a sin you don’t really realize you are doing because it looks so acceptable, but when you reflect on what you need to change, it always comes to mind.

Maybe it’s something you should be doing to draw closer to the Lord and to keep your covenants, but you think it’s easier to not do it.

Maybe it’s taking serious things too casually.

Because Jesus teaches that becoming a member of the covenant kingdom of God is going to require us to give up certain things.

One parable:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

And another parable:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46)

Selling all that we have.

Sacrificing to obtain covenant relationships with God.

But these people willingly do it. They wholeheartedly give up what was holding them back.

Those are the people who understand what’s at stake and what is available to us.

So what do you need to give up?

What can you sell in order to make room in your life for all that God’s kingdom holds?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black