Dealing with the root of sin

Lilian was just returning back from work. As she approached the front door to their apartment, she heard her son, Tony, screaming. Then, she heard her husband, Scout, speaking softly to Tony. She turned the doorknob, opened the door, and saw Tony trying to grab a toy away from his younger sister – he was still shouting.

“Be calm this minute!”, Lilian barked at them, causing Tony to suddenly let go of the toy.

Some moments later, Lilian went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

“Water please, water please!”, Tony shouted his request.

“Tony, stop shouting and learn to talk calmly”, Lilian told him and gave him a cup of water.

Dinner was now served.

“Is there any Greek yoghurt left in the fridge? I did not notice any when I checked earlier”, Scout quietly asked.

“This is the third time you’d be asking this question since yesterday. I told you I only saw plain yoghurt when I went shopping, so, I did not buy any since you don’t like it”, she replied with irritation in her voice.

“Mom, stop shouting and learn to talk calmly”, Tony repeated Lilian’s earlier instruction back to her.

Lilian apologised to Scout.

“It’s OK, Mommy is very tired”, Scout replied with a smile.

True, she was very tired as she had a busy day at work. Except that three days later, on a Saturday, when she had just woken up from a relaxing afternoon nap, she had a reason to snap at Scout again over a minor issue.   

External influences do not and should not determine a Christian’s response to issues. Rather, it is the content and condition of the heart. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).  

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Whenever we observe that we are producing the works of the flesh, no matter how subtle it may be, it is time to deal with the root. Like David, we need to ask God, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalms 51:1-2).