Last night, the Redskins and Vikings kicked off week 8 in the NFL. At this point in the season, we have a pretty strong grasp of the teams heading in the right direction and those that are in big trouble.
One of the ways we can know this is to look at patterns. If a team puts together a couple of wins in a row behind a dynamic offense and then lays an egg one week, we can still be confident that they will be fine. The Houston Texans come to mind.
But if they all of a sudden allow that one loss to lead to two more, then it turns into a pattern of losing.
The Bills have won every game except for their matchup against New England. We all know the Patriots are the team to beat in the NFL, so one loss on Buffalo's record doesn’t take away from their overall pattern of play this year. They’re playing great defense and grinding out wins.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Chargers had high hopes to pick up where they left off last year, but they've now lost three in a row and show a pattern of finding ways to lose close games. Every one of their losses has been by 7 or fewer points. They seem to make a key mistake during a critical moment as the game is winding down.
Then you have teams like the Bengals, Dolphins, Falcons, and Redskins who have shown a pattern of poor play all around that has resulted in having a terrible start to the season. It’s not one game here or there, it’s every week and they’re losing games at a rapid rate.
In thinking about the concept of a pattern vs. a temporary setback or an isolated loss, I find there is a parallel to sin. We are broken and imperfect people who have to constantly battle against the sin in our life.
As followers of Jesus, we have overcome the ultimate punishment for sin because of Jesus and the cross, but we still have to fight against sin every day. The difference is, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us and a new nature. Sin should no longer maintain a hold on our life, but instead, we should experience freedom and victory.
Of course, we’re going to have off days where we slip and sin creeps in, but as followers of Jesus, we don’t have to let it become a pattern. Jesus gives us the strength and power to break the cycle as we repent and surrender. The losses don’t have to pile up because we confess, make the changes, and get back to a pattern of winning.
1 John 3:7-9 (NLT) says, "Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning.
"But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God."
Today, let's rely on the grace of Jesus and His strength to empower us to not make a practice of sinning.
Let's avoid any pattern of sin and be encouraged by Romans 12:2 (NIV), which tells us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that You've given me a new nature and a new life in Jesus. Please continue to help me remove the old patterns of sin as I desire to repent and move forward in freedom. I thank you for Your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen. Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What patterns of sin has God freed you from?
What patterns of sin are you asking God to give you the power to break?
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