April 8, 2022

Passage Read: Psalm 99-102
Meditation Verse: 99:8

Thought

God is a forgiving God, but He doesn't leave our sins unpunished. He doesn't want us to continue in wrong ways, so He will not just forgive sin without any mention of it, without rebuke of it. Indeed, if He says nothing, if He doesn't warn against sin, He will have to punish it, and that more severely because we walk in it longer, the habit becomes more difficult to break, we need more help to put an end to it. "Better is open rebuke than hidden love, wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." The Lord is gracious and doesn't treat our sins as they deserve, but He also doesn't turn a blind eye to them and leave us in them.

Application

It is good for God to point out my sin, to rebuke and even punish it. If I am tender hearted, He doesn't have to apply much pressure for me to repent, but if I am stubborn, set in my ways, determined to walk in wrong behavior, He will have to punish more severely to turn me from my sin. How He treats my sin depends on how teachable I am. Better to surrender my will now, completely, so that He doesn't have to use strength to turn me from sin. Set my heart to do His will, and He will not have to work hard to direct me into it.