Happiness in doing the hard thing

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Nehemiah 3:15–5:13 
1 Corinthians 7:25-40 
Psalm 32:1-11 
Proverbs 21:5-7

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 32:1-2 (CSB) "How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 32 is a ruggedly transparent Psalm. And because this is the case, it is incredibly beneficial to us!

Verses 1 and 2 (our Verses for Today) talk about the happiness that is to be enjoyed by someone who is forgiven. The clear implication is that a grievous sin has been committed.

When we read verses 3-5, we hear words filled with emotion. The Psalmist informs us of what it is like to live with unconfessed, unresolved sin. He knows that what he has done is wrong but he hasn't yet made it right. And it is eating him up on the inside. He is guilt ridden. His conscience is lighting up the dashboard of his heart and mind warning him that the problem needs to be remedied.

Verse 5, however, tells us how it was resolved. "Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the guilt of my sin."

It has been said, "Confession is good for the soul."

We know this all too well. We understand what it is like to wrestle with the pangs of guilt. We also know what it is like for the weight to be lifted when we confess our sin.

Once again, we realize that God's ways are best. When He tells us not to disobey His commands, it is for our own good. And when He calls us to confess our wrongdoing to make it right (1 John 1:9), it is also for our good.

So, friend, is there anything that you need to make right with God? With someone else? Why not commit today to resolve that issue so that you can join in with the Psalmist as you get your joy back...

"Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart." (Psalm 32:11)

Taking a Spiritual Bath

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Chronicles 14:1–16:14 
Romans 9:1-24 
Psalm 19:1-14 
Proverbs 20:1

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 19:12-14 (CSB)

12 "Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults." 

13 "Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion." 

14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The Christian life is one of compliance and of joy. 

It is compliance because God has made His standard clear and we are called to obey.

It is joy because we realize that as we obey our Lord, our consciences will be clear and we are free to enjoy fellowship with our God.

But, sin stands in the way. There is a hidden part of us that wars against us. It's called "the flesh." And it regularly calls us to stray from the path of holiness that God has called us to walk upon.

So, it must also be the regularly duty of the serious Jesus-follower to take a spiritual bath. We need to get cleaned up after we sin and so confession and repentance are necessary.

Our Verses for Today lead us in that discipline. In fact, they provide us with the words of a prayer that we could offer up regularly.

First, our spiritual cleansing begins with an acknowledgement that we have probably committed sins without even knowing it. Maybe we are unaware of some command God has given or we weren't paying attention to what we did. So, we ask for forgiveness for our unintended sins:

Psalm 19:12 "Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults."

Second, we acknowledge that there are certainly things we have done (or left undone) that violated God's commands. Or, maybe we did a good thing but with the wrong motive or attitude. So, we confess these sins specifically and ask that God would keep us from doing them in the future. 

Psalm 19:13 "Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion." 

Finally, we ask that the Lord would give us what we need to not only comply with God's commands with our actions, but also with our words and the private thoughts of our heart. We don't just ask for forgiveness - we crave to live in holiness.

Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

So, the question remains, friend: Are you serious about following Jesus? Have you genuinely given your life, all of it, to Him and is it your desire to live for him in the moments of your days?

Then, you've got to take daily, spiritual baths. Consider using Psalm 19:12-14 to do that.

Returning to holiness

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Kings 1:1–2:25 
Acts 13:42–14:7 
Psalm 139:1-24 
Proverbs 17:19-21

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 139:23-24 (CSB) "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 139 is a wonderful Psalm for quite a few reasons. Let me share two.

First, there are three "omni's" that speak of God's immensity:

Omniscient = God knows all things completely.
Omnipresent = God is completely everywhere at all times.
Omnipotent = God can do anything God wants to do.

So, when we look at the structure of Psalm 139, we realize that it can easily be divided into three sections. Further, each of these sections align with one of the "omni's" of God.

Psalm 139:1-6 = Omniscience of God
Psalm 139:7-12 = Omnipresence of God
Psalm 139:13-16 = Omnipotence of God

It is significant that the Holy Spirit led the Psalmist to illustrate these three attributes of God in relationship to him. God is omniscient (He knew everything about David); God is omnipresent (no matter where David went, God would be there); God is omnipotent (God was actively working to form David when he was en utero).

The remainder of the Psalm speaks of the Psalmist's amazement that such an incredible, infinite God would care so much for him (Psalm 136:17-18). He further asked that his infinite God would pronounce judgement on those who hate Him (Psalm 136:19-22). And finally, he asks that his infinite God would assist him in his desire to be holy and set apart for God (Psalm 136:23-24).

This final section is what I have chosen for our Verses for Today. Psalm 136:23-24 can be a wonderful prayer that we offer up to God if we want to do a thorough "spring cleaning" in our heart. 

Oftentimes, unconfessed sin can be forgotten and therefore never resolved. There can also be sin patterns in our hearts that we don't even notice. These scenarios and more will keep us from enjoying our God.

So, consider praying the words of Psalm 136:23-24 from your heart for the next few days and listen intently to what God may reveal. If there is some sin that you become aware of, completely confess and repent (turn away from it).

Our infinite God and Father wants us to live in such a way that we are not burdened down with guilt (legal and experiential). He also wants us to reflect His glory to others (show others by our lifestyle how good He is). The only way He can do this is if we are clean in His sight.

So, let the words of our Verses for Today be what God uses to begin the cleaning process.

Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way."

Why we MUST deal with personal sin

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 8:18–9:21 
Luke 23:44–24:12 
Psalm 99:1-9 
Proverbs 14:9-10

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 14:9 (CSB) "Fools mock at making reparation, but there is goodwill among the upright."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

It is doubtful that any of us can go for any significant amount of time without sinning. I'm not trying to be negative. I'm just acknowledging the fact that we are utterly dependent upon the Cross each moment of our life.

Whether it is a sinful action, or a sinful thought, or even a sinful motivation, all of us struggle to live in constant conformity to God's standard.

So, while we must rely upon prayer, meditating upon God's Word, resting in the power of the Holy Spirit, and a few other things to give us victory over sin, what do we do once we have sinned?

Our Verse for the Day tells us that the person who fails to acknowledge the offense of their sin and refuses to make amends with God is a fool.

Proverbs 14:9 (CSB) "Fools mock at making reparation, but there is goodwill among the upright."

Why is he a fool? Because the one who DOES make amends for his sin by acknowledging it to God and turning from it (repentance) will receive God's favor. They will experience the cleansing power of forgiveness. They will enjoy renewed fellowship with their God. They will avoid the consequences of sin. On and on we could go.

So, when you and I sin today, will we be a fool? The answer to that question is determined by whether or not we remain indifferent to the sin or whether we seek to make it right with God and others. 

Pour out your heart to God

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 28:16-29:40
Luke 3:23-38
Psalm 62:1-12
Proverbs 11:18-19

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 62:8 (CSB) "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

As a young Christian, I believed a lie about my prayer life. I thought that 'mature' prayers focused on others. It was the prayer of an immature Christian that focused on themselves. 

Or, so I thought.

When I went off to college, I spiraled into a serious time of discouragement - depression, really. And as I tried to work my way through that difficult time, I wanted desperately to feel loved and accepted by God. 

Yet, He felt a million miles away. When God's Word told me that Jesus called me His friend (John 15:15), it felt like that truth applied to everyone else except me.

... and then I re-read the book of Psalms!

The book of Psalms provided a powerful paradigm shift for me. I saw the Psalmist being completely real about his questions. I saw him opening up his heart to the Lord and not holding anything back. I realized that the Psalmist said things that I wouldn't have dared say in my own prayers because they sounded too harsh or even disrespectful.

... and yet He basked in God's love for Him.

And then it hit me! God knows my heart anyway. So, why not tell Him everything! Why not follow the Psalmist's example and be completely open and honest about what's going on in the privacy of my heart. Tell Him of my fears, my questions, my concerns, my doubts.

Or, as the Psalmist said in today's verse: "pour out your hearts before him."

One reason we are rarely completely honest with our family and friends is because we fear that we will be rejected. They will hear what is going on inside of us and then pull away from us.

So, we don't pour out our hearts. We keep it private and hidden wishing we could be accepted in light of who we truly are, struggles and all.

But, in prayer, God WANTS us to "pour out (our) hearts." He won't pull away. In fact, as we "pour out (our) hearts," we realize that He will forever remain "our refuge." 

Be honest with the Lord. Tell Him everything that is going on inside of you. Realize that He knows it already ... and still loves you more than you could ever possibly imagine. If you are His child, there is absolutely nothing you can do that would cause Him to love you any less.

So, be honest with Him in your prayers - as honest as the Psalmist was. And then bask in the fact that as you are becoming more like Jesus as the years pass by, you are dearly loved by your Heavenly Father through it all.

An unexpected road to freedom

Are you struggling with guilt or shame? Have you done something (or are doing something) that you know is wrong and yet cannot break free of it?

The very LAST thing we feel like doing is exposing our sin and weakness to someone else. Our mind and heart absolutely resists being vulnerable with someone else. 

Why? 

Because it sets us up for further pain. What if they look down on us? What if they condemn us? What if they cut us off? What if they share our sin with others?

These concerns are legitimate. But, to experience spiritual release and freedom, we have to embark into the ocean of uncertainty.

Listen to what God's Word says about this:

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed..." (James 5:16).

Let me tell you how this works (and I have seen it work over and over in my life and in the lives of others). 

When we humble ourselves before a trusted Jesus-follower and share our sin struggles, we are able to hear Jesus speak through them. 

Too often, we ask Jesus for forgiveness of our sin(s) but we struggle to receive that forgiveness because it isn't audible. We can't look in His compassion-filled eyes, see the seriousness of our sin, and hear Him say, "That's a sin I died for. You have repented of it. Of course you are forgiven. Go and sin no more." Since we can't see it and hear it (experience it), we may struggle to receive the forgiveness and healing that Jesus is offering to us.

Yet, when a Jesus-follower, who is serious about both holiness and grace, tells us that our sin is serious but so is Jesus' grace ("...where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," Romans 5:20), then we may experience that "moment" we need to break free of our sin with its shame and guilt. When they look us in the eye after we have told them of our sin (and our repentance to the Lord) and say, "That sin is serious but of course Jesus has forgiven you," that can be a profound moment that helps us break free from the chains of sin, guilt and shame.

So, are you struggling with feeling forgiven by God? Are you struggling with shame and guilt? Why not obey James 5:16, find a trusted Jesus-follower, swallow your self-defeating pride, and take the steps to move into a freedom and forgiveness you may have not felt in a very long time.

Admitting I've sinned demonstrates that I'm saved

If someone came to you today and humbly confronted you with some sin in your life, how would you respond?

Most people don't respond well. As a pastor, I've had to confront folks before and many of them have usually not responded well. Sometimes, they leave the church. I've also been confronted with my own sin and it's often a bitter pill for me to swallow, too, to acknowledge sin in my life. (It's a little more difficult for me to leave the church, though. lol)

Why do we act that way? Because we want others to think well of us. If we are a child of God, the residual remnants of the 'old person' (2 Corinthians 5:17) we were before we were saved is hanging on for dear life. It despises being corrected by others. It would much rather point out faults in others than acknowledge its own deficiencies. This is just one illustration of how sinful pride has taken root in our lives.

Yet, in my Bible reading this morning, the Lord reminded me that a true child of God will readily acknowledge sin in their life. (The obvious implication is that they will actively work to kill sin in their mind and heart. [Romans 8:13])

1 John 1:8-10 (English Standard Version)

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

So, yes, if we are heaven-bound, we still struggle with sin. And, yes, we'll acknowledge it's presence. But, we will also realize that our God is so wonderful that He won't hold it against us as we confess it to Him and make it right.

Today, if someone points out some area in your life that needs attention, don't get upset. Realize that God may be speaking through that person to point out an area in your life that needs attention. (I should hope that if I have food between my teeth that someone would tell me! This same principle applies to my spiritual life.)

After all, God loves us just the way we are but loves us too much to let us stay that way. He's about the business of conforming us to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29).

Reflections on the Jerry Sandusky verdict

Last night, the jury arrived at a verdict in the Jerry Sandusky case. He was found guilty on 45 of 48 counts of sexual abuse of minors. There was an overwhelming amount of testimonies. There was a lack of overwhelming substantive evidence. And yet, the jury and most people watching the trial believe that Sandusky was lying and should spend the rest of his life in prison.

Did the jury get it right? Or, as the case proceeds through the appeals process (which almost certainly is a given), will it become apparent that the witnesses were lying? Who knows?

But, there is one person who most certainly knows - Jerry Sandusky. As the verdict was read, Sandusky showed little emotion. Yet, inside his mind and heart, he knew the truth. If he is truly guilty, there was never an acknowledgment of it as he sat silently.

This is human nature. 

Adam and Eve would not volunteer a confession until God confronted them (Genesis 3).

Sarah could not acknowledge the fact that she laughed at a promise given by the Lord even when confronted (Genesis 18:9-15).

David refused to acknowledge an adulterous affair, murder and deception until the prophet Nathan confronted him (2 Samuel 12:1-15).

Annanias and Saphirra would not volunteer the truth to the Apostle Peter (Acts 5:1-11).

This is human nature ... or rather an evidence of the sin nature. Valuing self-protection and comfort more than "truth," the sin nature lies and refuses to acknowledge truth.

And, depending upon the nature of the offense, some folks (who have an active conscience) will withhold the truth to their own harm. They will live with guilt the rest of their lives. If they don't shut their conscience down completely ("sear it" - 1 Timothy 4:2), they will begin to experience problems with their health, relationships, etc. 

In his commentary on the book of Ephesians, John MacArthur recounts the following story:

"According to an ancient Greek story, a Spartan youth stole a fox but then inadvertently came upon the man from whom he had stolen it. To keep his theft from being discovered, the boy stuck the fox inside his clothes and stood without moving a muscle while the frightened fox tore out his vital organs. Even at the cost of his own painful death he would not own up to his wrong."

It is a godly and courageous person, indeed, who will own up to what they have done. Why is it courageous? Because it is rarely if ever easy. In fact, it may be the hardest and most frightening thing someone will ever do ... and in confessing, there may be consequences.

But there is so much on the line! Why?

Because if the person is saved, God will bring discipline into that person's life until they make it right (Hebrews 12:5-11). 

And if discipline does not come in this life, it shows that someone is not God's child. Thus, they will hear the Lord say on the Day of Judgment: "I never knew you, depart from me..." (Matthew 7:22-23). The place to which these men and women are sent is a place of intense anguish (Matthew 13:41-42; Revelation 20:11-15). And it will be forever (Matthew 25:46). Horrid thought!!!

This second possibility shows that a desire to protect oneself from truth and consequences in this life may reveal that there are infinitely greater consequences in the life to come.

It's not worth it! Just meditate on the promise and joy of experiencing the truth of this verse, of being right with God:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). 

Being right with God and enjoying Him is worth whatever cost you may have to pay to get it!

Symptoms of a guilty conscience

To keep from having a guilty conscience, let me begin with a confession. An old Scottish proverb says, “Confession is good for the soul.” So, here’s my confession … I watched about an hour of the Casey Anthony trial today. OK. I confessed and I already feel better!

Well, anyhow, I watched as the state prosecutors wrapped up the trial with their closing statements. One thing that caught my attention, and probably grabbed a lot of people’s attention, was when lead prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick talked about guilt and its symptoms.

Every one of us has been troubled with a guilty conscience before. God hardwired us to respond in a very specific way when we violate the law that He wrote on our hearts. (In fact, that's probably why the camera has been aimed at Casey Anthony throughout the trial. The television crews know that people will want to observe her reactions to look for clues to see if her conscience is bothering her.)

Let’s begin with what the lead prosecutor said and then look at some Scripture to see if she got the symptoms right. Ms. Linda Burdick said: “Everybody grieves differently. Responses to grief are as varied as the day is long but responses to guilt are, oh, so predictable. What do guilty people do? They lie, they avoid, they run, they mislead not just their family but the police, they divert attention away from themselves and they act like nothing is wrong.”

So, according to Ms. Burdick, those with a guilty conscience try to avoid any situation where they will have to talk about what they have done. In that position, they act as if nothing has happened. But when confronted, they lie and/or do anything to get attention off of themselves and get attention directed at others.

Well, that was Ms. Burdick’s analysis. But is that borne out in Scripture? Let’s take a look at four Bible characters in three Old Testament scenarios: 1) Adam and Eve; 2) Cain; and 3) King David.

Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-13):

When Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened to their sin and they experienced the first pangs of guilt, they tried to “cover up” their offense (quite literally). Genesis 3:7 says that “…they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.” And isn’t that true? It's human nature for someone to try and cover their trail when they've done something wrong. People will do everything possible to cover up their offense so as not to be discovered.

The next thing that Adam and Eve did was to run and hide. Genesis 3:8 says: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Human nature hasn’t changed. When someone's conscience is bothering them and they're racked with guilt, they'll make a run for it. They’ll try to get away. But if that isn’t an option, they’ll mysteriously begin cutting off contacts with others. If Adam and Eve had been able to hide from God effectively, they wouldn’t have had to answer for their sin. The same principle is still at work in human nature today.

Another symptom of guilt that Adam and Eve evidenced was playing the “blame game.” Listen to Adam and Eve’s response in Genesis 3:11-13 (beginning with God’s question to Adam): “Then He asked, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I had commanded you not to eat from?’ Then the man replied, ‘The woman You gave to be with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.’ So the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ And the woman said, ‘It was the serpent. He deceived me, and I ate.’” Again, human nature is the same thousands of years later. If someone's conscience is killing them, when confronted with their offense, they'll look for someone else to blame. They'll either say that someone else did it or they'll blame their infraction on someone else’s influence that they claim made them do something against their conscience.

So, from Adam and Eve’s account, we learn at least that those who are battling a guilty conscience typically try to cover their tracks, they run and hide and they play the blame game when confronted.

Cain (Genesis 4:8-16):

After Cain took the life of his brother in a jealous rage, God confronted him. Cain’s conscience was troubling him and his first response was indifference. Genesis 4:9 begins with God’s question: “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘“Am I my brother’s guardian?’” It’s pretty clear – indifference. Cain was acting as if nothing major happened. He tried to play it off … and human nature still behaves the same way. To try to keep the consequences at bay, the one grappling with guilt will try to act as if the allegations aren’t that big of a deal.

A symptom of a guilty conscience that Cain seems to have shared with his parents is that he tried to cover up his trail. Genesis 4:10 seems to imply this when it says: “Then He said, ‘What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground!’” Did Cain bury his brother to get his lifeless body out of sight? It seems that this is at least a plausible possibility. In fact, it would make complete sense because it has been a pattern for people to cover their tracks since the Creation.

King David (2 Samuel 11):

Throughout the account described in this chapter, you see a man who knows that what he did was wrong, so he tries to cover up his trail. In fact, 2 Samuel 11 shows a web of deception that David weaved because of his guilty conscience.

   
Throughout the history of the human race, beginning with Adam and Eve up to the present day, mankind has shown that God has implanted a conscience within us - He has actually written his law on our hearts (Romans 2:14-16). Scripture makes clear that it is certainly possible that there are some who won’t be plagued by a guilty conscience because their conscience is seared (1 Timothy 4:1-2). However, those folks are presented as the most wicked of men and not the norm.

So, as we consider prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick’s description of what someone with a guilty conscience will act like, and as we compare that description with Scripture, we realize that she was right on ... which still doesn't help much when you observe Casey Anthony's demeanor (she's either innocent or her conscience is seared).

One finally word, though. I don’t know whether Casey Anthony is guilty or not. It sure seems that she is. But supposing that she is guilty, what’s to be her response? It is absolutely clear in Scripture. Adam and Eve did it. Cain did it. King David did it. Unfortunately, they only did so because they were forced into it. What did they do? The confessed!

If you read Psalm 51, you’ll get a peek into the confession of King David after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. It is an incredibly vivid look into the heart of a man who valued his relationship with his Lord. He valued his fellowship with his God more than he did the consequences he would face with a public confession. 

It was also King David that penned Psalm 32:5 – “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You took away the guilt of my sin.” Confession brought inner freedom! The weight of guilt was removed!

It cost David some dire consequences and it will cost Casey serious consequences if she confesses. Yet, the heart of a person who wants to enjoy fellowship with the Lord will do whatever it takes after a moral failure to come back into right relationship with God. Confession is a huge step in the right direction.

Is confession really necessary?

There is a wonderful promise found in Proverbs 28:13. "The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy." Speaking from experience, the issue in this verse is not whether or not we will sin. It is a foregone conclusion that we will stray from God’s commands each day. The issue addressed in this verse is whether or not we will acknowledge our shortcomings, confess them and turn from them.


But isn’t it within human nature to try and conceal our sins? Rather than face the immediate consequences of our failures, we would rather deny our shortcomings and hope that we won’t be found out. Yet, God’s Word is clear when it says in Numbers 32:23 - "...you may be sure that your sin will find you out."


One such illustration is found in 2 Samuel 11-12. In chapter 11, we read about how King David lazily stayed home from battle while his army was out fighting. One evening, he went for a walk on the roof of his palace and saw a woman taking a bath. Instead of immediately turning away, he gawked and lusted.


Sin is never satisfied. It is like a cancer that is not content unless it grows and spreads. As he lusted, his heart began to race. His sexual engine began to throttle up. Simultaneously, his logic and his desire for holiness was shut down. His racing passions were begging to find expression and so he abused his power and sent for the woman.


That evening, he took what didn’t belong to him. He grossly abused his position as a leader and violated a woman that was not his to claim. And when he was done with her, with only regard for his own personal passions and desires, he sent her back to her home.


But sin is like a cancer. It grows. It spreads. When he found out that Bathsheba was pregnant with his baby, he realized that he left some tracks that needed to be covered. He called for her husband, Uriah, who was loyally fighting for David on the battlefield. He encouraged Uriah to spend some “time” with his wife. If that happened, David surmised, Uriah would think that the baby was his. The only ones who would know the truth were David … and Bathsheba who may have been plagued with guilt with the secret she withheld from her husband.


But sin is like a cancer. It grows. It spreads. Uriah refused to go home and enjoy his wife. He knew that he had left his comrades on the battle field who did not have such a privilege. It wouldn’t be fair for him to enjoy what his men could not. So David sent Uriah back to the battlefield.


But David did something unimaginable. He sent Uriah with an unopened note that guaranteed his death. David orchestrated a plan in which Uriah would be killed on the battlefield. The plan succeeded and an innocent man died because he did not participate in the cover-up of David’s sin. 


David continued to obstinately sit on the sin and refused to make it right. He had lusted, committed adultery with Bathsheba, tried to cover it up, planned and carried out Uriah’s death … and still he refused to acknowledge it.


All the while, 2 Samuel 11:27 says, “…the Lord considered what David had done to be evil.” (That may not sound too bad. Yet Joshua 7 recounts a story of how God’s anger burned against the whole nation of Israel because of one man’s sin.) We can only imagine who was being hurt by David’s sin and his subsequent refusal to acknowledge, confess and forsake it and then take the consequences.


In 2 Samuel 12, God sent a man to David. David was living a lie and so God moved to expose it. Listen to 2 Samuel 12:1-9:


“So the Lord sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: ‘There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. It lived and grew up with him and his children. It shared his meager food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.’ David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.’ Nathan replied to David, ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife – you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword.’”


If you continue to read the chapter, you realize that because of David’s sin and refusal to acknowledge it, God was going to bring dire consequences into David’s life. What David had dreaded came upon him anyway. He learned firsthand the principle found in Numbers 32:23 - "...you may be sure that your sin will find you out."


We all fail. While some offenses are greater than others, we all sin. God’s message is clear. He will not bless us when we fail to acknowledge our sin and refuse to repent. In fact, He will come after us until we make it right (Hebrews 12:5-6).


One final thought: Christians are quite capable of concealing sin – for a period of time. Yet, if we live a lie and take measures to conceal our sin and never acknowledge it, we may be evidencing fruit that testifies to the fact that we were never a Christ-follower after all. In that case, the Lord would say on the day of judgment: "Depart from Me, I never knew you." An unimaginably horrific thought!


The following verse is pretty abrasive but it was no less abrasive when Jesus spoke it. John 8:44 “You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.”


David experienced consequences for his sin but he also enjoyed renewed fellowship with the Lord as he was moved to acknowledge and confess his sins. That renewed fellowship is yours to enjoy. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).


What is your response?

Private sins - do they exist?

As I write this, the news cycles and talking radio heads are rehashing Congressman Anthony Weiner’s confession and his actions that required such a confession.

There are many principles we could draw from his confession but for the purpose of this post, let’s focus on why it is necessary to acknowledge our wrongdoings and make restitution where necessary when offenses have taken place.

Let’s begin with a passage from Joshua 22:20 - “Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.” (New Living Translation)

The tone in which those words were spoken may have been marked by fear, anger and disbelief. The 2½ tribes of Israel (that settled the land east of the Jordan River) had built an altar in the Jordan Valley. When the Israelites (that claimed the land west of the Jordan River) heard of this, they “assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them” (Joshua 22:12).

They assumed that the 2½ tribes were setting up a place of worship that would rival the tabernacle. If this was their motive (which it wasn’t), it would be a serious sin against Almighty God.

So why did the Israelites care about this matter at all? It was a simple altar and it wasn’t hurting anyone, right? Besides, it could even be argued that it was none of the Israelite’s business, right? Wrong.

The answer is found in Joshua 22:20. “Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.”

One sin, committed by one person, could bring divine judgment upon others in the group. It had happened when Achan committed a “small”, private sin and thirty six men died in battle as a result.

The Israelites were convinced that God would probably do the same thing again if this questionable altar in the Jordan Valley wasn’t destroyed. God may move to kill more people.

This doesn’t seem fair, does it? In fact, it seems to cut right at the root of God’s justice. If God is fair and completely just in His actions, why would He bring harm to those around me if my sin is private and isn’t hurting anyone?

And what do you do with Ezekiel 18:20? “The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.”

Let’s suppose that I commit some sin (a “small”, private sin) that brings displeasure with God. According to Hebrews 12:6, “…the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives.” The Lord will discipline me in some way that is fitting but according to Ezekiel 18:20, He won’t discipline my wife or children. He won’t “spank” one of my boys for a sin that I have committed.

So, what’s Joshua 22:20 talking about? Let me answer that with an illustration.

Last year, I went on a trip to Ecuador. We landed in Quito and then took a long bus ride over the Andes Mountains to Shell on the edge of the Amazon jungle. For those of us who remained awake during that trip, we vividly remember how frightening it was to look out our window at times and see the 1,000+/- foot drop to the valley floor.

Suppose the bus driver wanted to get us to Shell as quickly as possible and so he broke the speed limit on those mountain passes. Let’s further suppose that as he entered one of those dangerous turns, he realized too late that he was traveling too quickly to navigate the turn. As a result, we all went over the edge of the cliff and plunged to our deaths.

Let me ask a question: Who was the one who sinned? Not me! I was sitting quietly in my seat reading a great book. Others on the bus were sleeping. How can you sin while you’re sleeping?

Possibly, the only one sinning was the bus driver. But who experienced the consequences of that sin? All of us! We were all a part of the group that was on the bus.

Suppose that bus driver had a close friend on the bus. Maybe he even had a child on board that he loved dearly. Would they have been spared the fate the rest of us experienced simply because the bus driver cared about them? Of course not. The fact is that the sin of speeding committed by the bus driver caused all of us in that bus to experience the consequences of that sin.

The fact is that while we were riding the bus, we happened to be a part of the group that included the bus driver. If he sinned and it brought on consequences, any of us in that group may have experienced those consequences … even if we were completely unaware of the offense.

So, did those 36 men in Joshua 7 lose their lives because God was punishing them for Achan’s sin? No. But Achan’s “private” sin removed God’s hand of blessing from the group he was a part of. It was because of Achan’s private offense that consequences directed at Achan’s group happened to land on 36 unsuspecting, innocent bystanders.

None of us lives in a vacuum, especially in regard to our pursuit of holiness. If you or I are engaged in sin or haven’t confessed and made amends for previous wrongdoings, we may be responsible for harm that comes to those we love.

There is no such thing as a “private” sin.