grace given me

Recently a friend of mine said to me, “I love Jesus, but I don’t love church because they’re always talking about sin and being a sinner. I’m a pretty good person. Why are they so focused on sin?” I have to admit, not too long ago, I held the same perspective. I worked hard to be a decent human being. I tried to be kind to people. I wasn’t stealing, murdering, or committing adultery. I made an effort to be truthful and not use the Lord’s name in vain. I too found the obsession with sin annoying—almost badgering. It felt like such a downer. Why not focus on the good stuff and be more encouraging?

What I didn’t realize in my naivete was that the obsession with sin was the good stuff—some of the best stuff, in fact. Because here’s the twist: putting a focus on sin becomes one of the greatest sources of encouragement there is. In true Jesus fashion, it’s always more than what first meets the eye. The obsession with sin isn’t about shame—it’s about helping us see exactly what God has done for us. 

The enemy does not want us to fully grasp what God has done for us, because he knows that’s when we become free and powerful in the kingdom. So, he works to keep us blinded. He distorts our perspective on sin. Some of his most effective tactics include keeping us focused only on the “big sins” and making us question, “Why isn’t being a good person good enough?” 

When we stay fixated on just the obvious or dramatic sins, we overlook the subtler, sneakier ones—sins that still wreak havoc in our lives. They keep us in bondage and prevent us from living in true freedom, peace, and joy. Let’s explore one. How many of us try to be nice, yet find ourselves triggered by an old relationship pattern or offense? Or we aim to be kind, but then unexpected envy or fear sneaks in, and suddenly we’re not honoring others—instead, we’re bearing false witness or starting to covet. We may rationalize our words, believing they were warranted because of how we were treated, or justify our actions altogether. But James 2:10 reminds us: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

All sin separates us from God. If we don’t see our infractions and how we fall short, we won’t fully recognize our need for Jesus. When we minimize sin, we’re essentially saying that what he did wasn’t that big of a deal. And just like that, the enemy has succeeded in deceiving us. Yet, God already knows every single one of our sins—every negative thought, every hidden moment, every private stumble. And he’s not trying to shame you. He wants to relieve you of it. When you start boldly acknowledging even the smallest mess-ups, your first fear might be guilt. But when you confess, repent, and thank Jesus for covering you, something extraordinary happens: you begin to walk in glorious freedom. You experience a depth of love you never knew was possible.

Another trap is believing we just need to try and be a good person. When we emphasize what we are doing, we end up endorsing a self-works salvation program. And if that’s the path you choose, God will let you take it—but that also means you must fulfill the law perfectly. That’s 100% adherence, all day, every day, with not a single slip-up. I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I can do that. For years, I tried. The enemy had tricked me into a performance-based theology. I believed I had to be a “good girl” for God, working to earn his approval. Of course, I’d fall short—and then I’d beat myself up. That cycle of self-condemnation slowly distanced me from God, because who wants to keep approaching someone when all you feel is failure? 

John 3:17 assures us: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Beating yourself up over sin isn’t what God wants. In fact, doing so says to him that what Jesus did wasn’t enough—that his sacrifice was somehow insufficient. He just wants us to see the magnitude of the gift we’ve been given. Titus 3:5 brings us clarity: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” God knows what he did for us. Don’t minimize it. Don’t insult it. Instead, praise Him. Revel in it. And be gloriously free.

Lord, you are perfect, and you have loved us from the very beginning. Thank you for sending your beloved son for us. His sacrifice—and his sacrifice alone—cleanses us of all sin. Our sins are as far as the east is from the west when we surrender and accept this most awesome gift. Thank you for relieving me of the constant burden of falling short. I pray you will continue to show me how to walk forward in freedom and love, sharing this liberation with others. Amen.