Cherishing Sin’s Heartfelt Devotion and Spiritual Consequences

Cherishing sin in the heart signifies a deep, devoted attachment to it, far beyond mere awareness or occasional temptation. This concept can be vividly understood through the analogy of savoring a toffee. Just as a person might hold a toffee in their mouth, slowly enjoying its sweetness and reluctant to finish it, so too does cherishing sin involve focusing on it with affection and unwillingness to let it go.

The term "cherish" conveys a powerful idea of affectionate devotion and focused attention. When sin is cherished, it occupies a place of prominence in the heart, much like a treasured treat that one savors deliberately. This devotion to sin is not passive; it is an active, ongoing engagement that reflects love and attachment rather than mere presence.

Such cherishing of sin has serious spiritual consequences. It hinders prayer and fellowship with God because a heart devoted to sin is not fully open to divine communication. Scripture affirms that if sin is cherished in the heart, the Lord will not listen to one’s prayers ([08:06]). This reveals that cherishing sin is a barrier to receiving God’s blessing and maintaining a pure relationship with Him.

The distinction between those who truly repent and those who are hypocritical is also evident in their attitude toward sin. A holy person not only leaves sin behind but also loathes it, rejecting any affection for it. In contrast, a hypocrite may outwardly abandon sin but still harbor love for it internally. Cherishing sin is akin to holding onto a tempting but ultimately harmful treat, focusing on it with affection despite its destructive nature.

Understanding cherishing sin as a form of devoted focus underscores the necessity of loathing sin and maintaining short accounts with it. This ensures that prayers remain effective and the relationship with God remains unbroken. The image of savoring a toffee powerfully illustrates the danger of allowing sin to occupy the heart’s affection, emphasizing the need for wholehearted devotion to God rather than to sin.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Alistair Begg, one of 1769 churches in Chagrin Falls, OH