DAILY DEVOTION, March 24, 2021, sins of omission

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

James reminds us that sin is not only what we do but what we fail to do. When we face an opportunity to do good, and we have the capability to act, but we fail to act, sin has been committed. When we realize how much good we leave undone, we learn how far we are from God’s standards. It’s easy to be overcome with guilt. But the grace of God can reassure those who are in Christ that there is no condemnation (Ro 8:1). We fall short, but we fall into the safety net of God’s grace.

True, but this does not mean that God excuses our neglect. Sin always brings divine discipline. When we are in a position to do a good deed, the best course is to act. When we fail to act, we may not lose our salvation, but we open ourselves up to divine discipline, and we deprive ourselves of rewards reserved for the faithful. We don’t want to allow this verse to overwhelm us with guilt. We can always do better. I think James is referring to a clear opportunity before us to act faithfully to God, but we refuse. An example would be when God commands us to forgive those why have hurt us, and we refuse. We expose ourselves to divine discipline. The better course is when we understand what God wants us to do, we act accordingly.

Dearest Father, help me see what You are calling me to do, and please help me act and not refuse. I know Your will is the path of blessing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.