You are NOT my friend

A Friend Closer Than a Brother

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

The Scripture says that:

Proverbs 18:24 (ESV): 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Who would have imagined that sin is the friend we chose, more often than not, to stick closer to us than a brother.

Story - Mark Hunter

Sin is defined as departing from God to seek comfort from an idol of our choice.

The world is a dangerous and scary place; a place full of hurtful and deadly landmines. Jesus said it Himself

Luke 17:1–2 (LEB): 17And he said to his disciples, “It is impossible for causes for stumbling not to come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea than that he causes one of these little ones to sin.

The world is full of people who hurt other people. Causes for stumbling come THROUGH someone!

The world is full of people who are afraid, worried, insecure, hurt, feeling insignificant, etc.; who chose idols that make them feel secure, safe, confident, powerful, significant. The problem is these choices usually result in others being negatively impacted by other’s need to feel this way.

Insignificance looks like oppersion of another person we deem significant.

Insecurity looks like discrediting someone talented or envying somone you wish you were. Heck, I wish, I was.

Unmet needs leads to idols which in turn hurt other people so we can feel like the need is met

To sin means to miss the mark, the mark is: all of these needs being satisfied in God our Father.

We sin when we go to idols to “meet” these same needs. When we miss the mark, someone, ultimately is hit by our stray arrow, thus leading them to shoot and miss their own targets. The cycle is unending until someone realizes that sin is not a good friend.