I’m taking a preaching course this fall with Bryan Chapell. For the last 20 years, he’s been a bit of a guru in the area of Christ-centred preaching. In his book, “Christ-Centered Sermons,” he asks a provocative question. “What is the primary reason that sin has power in our lives?” I wonder how you’d answer that question. I can almost hear people’s answers. “I don’t pray enough.” “I don’t read the Bible enough.” “I don’t try hard enough.” “I’m not disciplined enough.” Do you recognize your own answer yet? In one sense, those answers may be part of the reason why sin has power in our lives, but he argues that the ultimate answer is something else. At the risk of stating the obvious, he says that the ultimate reason that sin has power over us is that we love it. In fact, even if we say that we love Jesus, in the moment that we commit a sin, we love that sin more than we love Jesus.

He compares us to an adulterer who says to his wife, “The other woman meant nothing to me; I still love you.” Even if the person does love his wife, in the moment that he commits adultery, he loves that sin more than he does his wife. So, what do you most need to sin less? Chapell answers that you need more love for God. Jesus seemed to agree. In John 14:15, He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Our love drives our behaviour. The problem is that we often love the wrong things. Confronting and admitting our love for the wrong things is important, but ultimately doesn’t solve the problem. I need to grow in my love for God. That may seem obvious, but it’s not. For example, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people paraphrase the so-called Great Commandment in Matthew 22:37-40 and then gloss over the love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind part and just focus on the love your neighbour part. In fact, there’s a reason that loving your neighbour is secondary. Unless you start with love for God, you don’t know how to love your neighbour and you don’t have the power to do so. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.”

If love for God is what I most need to sin less, the next question is, Where do you get it? How do you grow in your love for God? Let me suggest a few ways to get you started.

1. Focus on Him.

To start with, you need to avoid doing what I described above where people skip the ‘God stuff’ and go straight to what we need to do. When you read the Bible, look for God. What does it reveal about His character? What does it show about His nature? Listen to sermons that make much of God instead of just focusing on people. But don’t just grow in your knowledge of God. Focus also on your awareness of Him. Train yourself to be aware of His presence in your day. Consider His role in your circumstances. Think about Him often – this is what people who are in love do!

2. Praise Him.

As you begin to focus more on God, seek to grow in praise. Take what you’re learning about God’s character and express it back to Him in adoration. Praise is expressing your love in words. Do that as you reflect on God’s attributes. When you hear a sermon, rehearse in your mind what it taught you about God and worship Him for His goodness and love. Allow God’s Word to drive you to praise and listen to worship songs that stir your wonder for Him.

3. Thank Him

As you focus on God and become aware of Him and His perspective on your life and circumstances, mentally acknowledge the many ways that He has blessed you, especially in salvation. That’s not to deny the challenges and pain we’re confronted with but to be grateful for the many ways that God ministers to us in our trials. People who are in love don’t just express thanks to each other; they often can’t help but tell others also. Thank God for His work in your life and let others know how good He’s been to you.

The greatest way that God demonstrated His love for us was at the cross. So, it’s as we grow in our appreciation of the good news that Jesus died for us and learn to personalize this act of love in the different dimensions of our lives, that our love for God grows and our flirtation with sin decreases. May God stir up your love for Him today.

In awe of Him,

Paul