“So what is your signature sin? No matter how hard you try, no matter how many times you’ve said, ‘I’m never going to do that again,’ you still keep on doing it? What’s the destructive behavior that, when you look in the mirror after doing it, makes you shake your head and wonder . . .”- Bob Merritt
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what i am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”- Romans 7:15-17 (NLT)
In Chapter 5 (“Signature Sins”) of Done With That, Bob Merritt begins with a story about Blue, his chocolate lab hunting dog. Seems that Blue loves the local mail carrier. Because the carrier tosses Blue treats as he or she passes by to deliver the mail.
However, one day Bob decided not to put on Blue’s collar. Thus rendering the electronic fence lining the yard’s perimeter useless. Even the thought of getting zapped failed to stop Blue on his appointed meeting with the mail carrier. As a result, as the truck arrived, Blue climbed headfirst into the mail carrier’s lap.
Hence, along with Blue’s boundless joy resides a lack of self-control. His signature sin. That’s also true of us. Our strongest quality also functions as our biggest vulnerability. Therefore, when you think about signature sins, take note of what first comes to mind. For what immediately pops into your mind provides a great clue.
Yet, Pastor Merritt exhorts, the apostle Paul faced this issue of nagging sin as well. Bob adds:
” . . . even the best of us struggle with something, so the goal can’t be perfection — because that’s impossible. The goal is to improve through a process of becoming aware , making corrections, asking forgiveness, and trying again.”
Today’s question: When you think of your signature sin, what comes to mind right away? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Faultfinding – no solution to ongoing failures”
