Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 25:8-15
Ps 25:8-15
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Eph 1:3, 7-9
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Any sin is an affront to God and goes against his nature and the wages of sin is always death. But not all sin is the same in many other ways. Moses referred to “willful” sin vs. “ignorant” sin. There is no place for willful sin in the life of a Christian but we all commit ignorant sins. The first means that we know what God says, and in defiance of that, we do what we want instead of doing his will.
Jesus was angry with some of the leaders of his day because they knowingly and stubbornly went their own way instead of listening to the Law. On other occasions he felt compassion for those who were wrong because they had been led astray and did not know any better. Then there were those who knew what was right and wrong but got caught up in life and fell into sin.
David’s sin with Bathsheba was in the latter. But as soon as his sin was pointed out to him (we think; how could he not have known what he had done was sin?) he repented. No excuses or trying to blame someone else. He just said he had sinned and asked God to forgive him. John says that when we have a heart like David, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Heavenly Father, keep me from all sin. I know that I fail at times and need your continued forgiveness but I ask you to please help me be wiser and stronger so I don’t slip or fall. Thank you for your love, your mercy and compassion and for your forgiveness shown to me in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. Thank you for his resurrection that gives me promise of eternal life. Lord, I heard today of Christians in India who are being persecuted for your name. I ask you for your deliverance and your strength for all who suffer for you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
