Tag Archives: sin

May 7

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2 Samuel 5:13-16, 13:1-15:6; I Chronicles 14:3-7, 3:4-9

Did you ever want something so badly you couldn’t think of anything else? This thing, or this person would become your obsession. You’d think about what it would be like to have it, you’d dream about it, agonize over it. You get to the point where you believe you’d never be happy without it.

Maybe wanting this thing began to effect your day-to-day. You became moody or depressed or angry. You may have prayed God would give it to you, even if you knew it was a sin. You convince yourself you deserve it.

But does getting that thing ever bring the happiness you envisioned? Amnon took Tamar and once he had sex with her he hated her. His obsession ruined his life, Tamar’s life, and effected his  entire family.

Do you find yourself thinking… I’d be happy “if”? If I got married, if I had a different job, if I had a nicer house or drove a better car.

God is reminding me that if my focus is on anything or anyone other than him I am worshiping an idol. And he is very adamant about me not worshiping anyone or anything but him.

Amnon allowed himself to entertain sinful thoughts which became his focus. As he continued to feed his thoughts they grew until he was out of control. The result? Let’s just say it ended badly for all of them.

May the thoughts we think, the desires of our hearts be acceptable to God. And if we find our focus is on anything other than God, may we recognize it as sin and repent of it before we, too, are out of control. 

 

May 3

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Psalms 51, 103, 21, 2 Samuel 12:24-31, 8:2-8, 23:20, I Chronicles 20:1-3, 18:2-8, 11:22

We sin. It’s not like we wake up each morning and decide to disobey. But we are fallen, we are human. And we sin.

Unconfessed sin and an unrepentant heart have serious consequences, not the least of which is a broken relationship with our holy God.

Did you pray with David today as your read Psalm 51? Did God bring to mind that thought or action that you identified as sin? God desires truth in the inner parts. What did he reveal to you this morning?

David prays, “cleanse me”, “wash me”, “create in me a pure heart”, “renew a steadfast spirit in me”, “restore to me the joy of your salvation”. He prays these things with confidence that God will do it. He’ll be whiter than snow!

Then, in Psalm 103 he praises God from his inmost being. He says God forgives all our sins, heals our diseases, redeems our life, crowns us with love, and satisfies our desires. Doesn’t that make you want to praise him, too?

Father, thank you for the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood. I pray for all of us today, that you will examine us and reveal unconfessed sin. Then may we bow before you with repentant hearts. Wash us. Cleanse us. Restore us through your Son. And then may we go about our day praising you for what you have done.

May 2

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2 Samuel 11:2-12:24, Psalms 6, 32, 38

David was so mad at the rich man who took the pet of the poor neighbor’s children to serve it for lunch. In fact, David wanted the rich man to die for being so mean and thoughtless. Until he realized he was that rich man.

It tends to be easier to recognize sin in everyone else except ourselves, don’t you think?One might call someone out for having an affair, yet visit pornography in the privacy of their own home. Another might condemn a person for murdering a neighbor yet vote for legislators who enable unborn children to be murdered without penalty. We might break off a relationship because someone lied, yet tell our boss we got caught in traffic instead of overslept.

Didn’t Jesus say something about taking care of the plank in our own eye before we worry about the splinter in someone else’s?

This is not to say that we shouldn’t identify sin in ourselves and in others. We want to hold each other accountable before God. The lesson here is that we need to be honest about our own sin as well as the sin of others. We need to ask God to forgive us before we tell someone else to do the same.

Sometimes we might think if we protest loudly and often enough about some sin in someone else’s life people won’t notice that sin in us. 

But be warned. God notices. We may be able to pull off a charade with those people around us, but God sees it all. And he paid for it all. 

May we confess our sin and accept his forgiveness. Then… and only then… may we lovingly point others to the cross where they can find forgiveness, too.

Father, may we not ignore sin in our own lives or in the lives of our loved ones. Give us the ability to see ourselves as you see us. Point out those things that need confessed. And may we fall at your feet in repentance. Thank you for the forgiveness that is ours for the asking. Thank you for the precious blood of Jesus.

April 28

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Psalms 16, 101, 2 Samuel 5:6-12, 17-25, 23:13-17, 6:1-11, I Chronicles 11:4-9, 14:8-17, I Chronicles 11:15-19, 13:1-14

It seemed harmless enough. In fact, it seemed like the right thing to do. Loving, even. The ark of the Lord looked like it was going to fall when the oxcart lurched so Uzzah simply reached out to steady it. What’s so bad about that?

Well, if we look back at God’s instructions concerning the ark we see that he established it as the place he would reside and that no one was to touch it. Ever. There were elaborate instructions using long poles so that those who carried the ark wouldn’t even come close. 

It wasn’t that Uzzah didn’t know that. But why couldn’t God overlook this one little act when it seemed so innocent? 

Uzzah disobeyed. Disobedience is sin. What happened to Uzzah was a direct result of his disobedience.

The lesson here is that God’s standards are black and white. I’m glad for that, actually. He doesn’t make life a guessing game. He spells it all out and we can trust him to stick with it.

Good intentions are meaningless if they result in sin. A loving act can be sinful if there is disobedience involved.

Dear friend, God cannot overlook sin no matter how we dress it up.

Holy God, I thank you that your word to us spells things out so clearly. Thank you that you are consistent, never changing. May we honor you today with obedience according to your word.

April 26

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I Samuel 2:1-5:5, I Chronicles 3:1-4, 11:1-3

There is so much killing in the Old Testament. Abner and Joab were sitting around a pool and decided to each pick twelve men to fight one other. All twenty-four men died. Abner killed Asahel because Asahel wouldn’t quit following him. So Asahel’s brother Joab killed Abner for killing Asahel. Recab and Baanah killed Ish-Bosheth so David had Recab and Baanah killed for killing Saul’s son.

Yet again I am glad I live this side of the cross.

But how does this apply to me today? Jesus reminds me that one of the commandments is… thou shalt not kill. Then he adds… if you hate someone you’ve murdered them in your heart. ‘An eye for an eye’ may have been the way of life before, but Jesus taught us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. 

In a sense it’s harder to live a holy life in Jesus’ spiritual kingdom. In the Old Testament it was fairly easy to identify sin. You killed someone you died. You committed a sexual sin you died. You worshiped an idol you died.

But Jesus’ kingdom is no longer flesh and blood. God looks deeper than the surface and demands we not only act holy, but that holiness define our hearts, our attitudes, our thought-life.

Dear Jesus, may I live up to your standards today. Guard my heart and my mind and help me to obey you from the inside out.

April 15

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I Samuel 17, Psalm 144

This is probably one of – if not the most – familiar Old Testament stories. The boy David kills the giant Goliath with one stone. The little guy destroys the big bully. The story has been referenced in politics, business, sports, warfare. But what is the spiritual truth God would have us learn from David’s story?

David was able to face Goliath, not because he trained or studied hard to prepare, not because he had confidence in himself or his ability. He would face the giant because he had confidence in God. He had seen God help him kill a lion and a bear. Hear what he said to Goliath:

You came against me with a sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me…

Some of us are facing giants from our past, from loss or disease, from difficult relationships. But we all face the biggest bully of all – Satan who would steal our joy, render us ineffective, cause us to doubt.

May we, like David, face our giants in the name of the Lord Almighty. May we see victory today over sin and Satan – over our giants because of Jesus.

Father in Heaven, thank you for sharing this account of David. Thank you that you are the God who defeats giants. Help us to identify our personal giants and then commit them to you. And help us to believe when it’s hard to believe that you are able to help us defeat our enemy. May we trust you today and go boldly into battle. Give us the courage we need.

April 14

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I Chronicles 9:35-44, 5:7-10, 5:18-22, I Samuel 15:1-16:23

God told Saul to go to battle and not take any plunder. Nothing was to come back with the Jewish soldiers. But the livestock were healthy. Saul let his men bring back healthy sheep and goats.

When Samuel called him on it Saul said he thought he would use them for sacrifices.

Once again we see an example of someone trying to go to God on their terms and not God’s. God instructed Saul to destroy everything in that city. Saul thought he had a better idea.

Let’s beware of the temptation to rationalize sin or try to convince ourselves that a sin can be used for God’s glory. It just can’t happen.

Because of his disobedience, God took the kingdom away from Saul. Samuel left Saul and never saw him again after that. Was God serious about taking no plunder? What does Scripture tell us?

Father, it’s not always easy to obey you. Sometimes we are tempted to justify a sin and still think we can serve you. Help us to realize that you mean what you say and you tell us to be holy as you are holy. You tell us to flee sin and if we entertain sin in our lives we are disobeying. Help us also to realize that the consequences for disobedience are great. We want to be a people who love you and who serve you on your terms, not ours.

March 26

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Joshua 7-9

Achan found out that there is no such thing as a secret sin. We may succeed at hiding it from the people around us but make no mistake. God sees and he isn’t ignoring it.

I don’t know what Achan was thinking but I know the thoughts I’ve had when I try to hold on to what I think is a secret sin. Thoughts like… it’s not that big of a deal, it’s not hurting anyone, I’ll confess it later, I’m entitled to a little fun.

I need to be reminded that those arguments are never from God. They are Satan’s attempts at keeping me from a right relationship with God.

Achan’s story also reminds me that my life and my choices affect those around me. The nation of Israel could not win their battles as long as Achan held on to his sin. I wonder what blessings, what victories have been denied my loved ones, my church because of sins I think I’m hiding.

God, reveal to me anything in my life that displeases you. May I lay it all before you so that you can cleanse me. I don’t want anything standing between us today.

March 19

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Deuteronomy 19-22

For me the theme of this portion of Scripture seems to be… purge the evil from among you. That phrase is repeated several times.

Once again I am thankful that God does not ask us to kill sinners this side of the cross. But I am reminded that He wants me to have the same attitude about sin as He does. Purge. Get rid of it. Don’t tolerate it in any form in my life.

As I take a good look at my life, do I see evidence of sin which I’ve held on to or ignored? God is reminding me today that He is not ignoring it. He’s not just asking me to be a good person. He’s demanding that I be holy.

This Scripture also reminds me that “cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree.” Jesus did that for me. He hung on that cross stripped of everything but His love for me. And today I can stand before Him, cleansed by the blood of His sacrifice.

Father, reveal sin in my life so that I can purge the evil from within me. As you bring to mind those things that dishonor you, may I repent, turn away from sin and allow you to cleanse me. Thank you again today for the cross… that tree that cursed You and blessed me.

March 10

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Numbers 30,31

The Midianites had to be destroyed. They were the means of turning Israel away from the Lord. God’s command was to kill them all. But when the soldiers came back from the battle they came with the Midianite women and children as well as their livestock and possessions.

Moses was not happy. He told the soldiers they had to finish the job. Midianite women and children had to die.

God is asking me today to identify those things that are means of turning me away from Him. And once those things are evident, I must rid myself of them completely. Nothing is to stand between me and my relationship with God. Even if it appears to be just a little thing.

The lesson for me here in Numbers today is that not everything that can turn me away looks like an angry soldier with swords drawn. It may look like something totally innocent.

I challenge all of us to examine our lives and defeat the enemy that would keep us from a right relationship with God.

I am very glad that we are not called to kill people like they were in Old Testament times. We don’t have a flesh and blood enemy in God’s spiritual kingdom. However, the principles are the same for us. We cannot allow sin to have any place in our lives.

The internet is a great thing when used properly. But if I waste hours every day playing games or visiting ungodly sites, I need to walk away from it. And if I can’t walk away from it, maybe I need to cancel my service.

If gambling or alcohol or a career or an unhealthy relationship is coming between me and the Savior, I need to end it. If anger or jealousy or self-pity is robbing me of an affective testimony, I need to confess it and allow God to change it.

There just isn’t a way to almost serve God or to almost get right with Him. God wants us to defeat our enemies completely and rid ourselves of anything that would turn us away from Him.

Father, reveal those things in our lives that put us in danger of allowing the enemy to take up residence in our lives. Help us identify things that are the means of turning us away from You. Then defeat those enemies in our lives. Help us to live lives pleasing to you, lives able to be used by you to reveal you to a lost world, and lives that can be blessed and be a blessing today.