Ezra 9:3
"And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied."
Ezra's attitude about sin is refreshing.
When he heard that the children of Israel mingled themselves with the people of the land through marriage, it set him back. He didn't go on as if nothing happened, for something had happened. He didn't go on as if he didn't see something, for he did see something. Ezra's attitude when sin came to his attention brought three responses that helped him and the people to overcome their sin. These three responses about sin revealed what was truly in his heart.
First, you will notice he was shocked when he heard about the sin. It says when he heard about the sin that he "sat down astonied." The sin of the people shocked him. Though that sin had been around him for years, it still shocked him when he saw it and heard about it.
Too many times we become calloused towards sin. I'm afraid that we are no longer shocked with sin. The first time you saw certain sins is shocked you, but because you have been around it for so long it no longer shocks you. Never lose the shock of sin. Never lose the mentality that it is hard to believe that someone would do that type of sin. This response is very healthy as it encourages a Christian to stay away from sin. When you are no longer shocked with sin, then you are more apt to commit the sin yourself.
Second, you will notice he was embarrassed because of the sin. Ezra said in verse 6, "I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee..." The embarrassment when he saw it was great. He was so embarrassed with the sin that he blushed when it came into his presence.
When you lose your blush with sin, then sin has already began to work on your heart. Do you still blush when you hear or see sin? Do you still blush when you see adultery on the television screen? Do you still blush or feel uncomfortable when you're around the presence of alcohol? You should never become so calloused with sin that you lose your blush. When you lose your blush, you lose your innocency. One of the reasons our nation is morally depraved is because no sin ever embarrasses it. Friend, keep your innocency. Don't every lose your blush when you see or hear of sin.
Third, he was ashamed because of the sin. Not only was Ezra embarrassed when he saw sin, but he was ashamed to even be in its presence. When you sin, are you ashamed? Are you ashamed that you got caught or are you ashamed that you committed the sin? The reason you are ashamed is important. Your response to committing the sin ought to cause you to be ashamed of yourself. If your ashamed because someone caught you, then you are not truly sorry for your sin. A true sorrow of sin will cause a person to be ashamed that they committed that sin.
Your response towards sin is important as to whether or not sin has calloused you. Don't ever lose these three responses when you're in sin's presence. If you lose these responses then sin has already begun to take ahold of your heart. Ask God to help you to never lose these three responses towards sin. Don't let others shame you when you have these responses with sin. These responses will keep you from sin and will help to restore you when you commit sin.