Sin.  What an ugly word.  A working (and actual) definition from the Greek is to “miss the mark.”  There are specific sins the Bible lists, Romans 1:29 through 31 is one example.

They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Those who have placed their faith in Christ are sinners, not having their sinful nature removed, though free from the bondage of sin according to the Bible (The Gospel is God’s method for removing the bondage of sin).  Yet, the removal of bondage does not remove the struggle.

The apostle’s wrote to the various local churches to be strong.  Specifically, Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”  This was an admonishment to be strong in temptations of life and the various persecution they faced.

Are you strong today?  Will you be strong later tonight or tomorrow?  There are constant pressures to abandon our defenses and give into sin.  Be strong in the Lord when you interact with difficult people.  Be strong in the Lord when tempted to be less than then new creation you are in Christ.  Be strong to stand for God’s Be strong in the Lord through a life built upon the true Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.