PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 64
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Let all those whose hearts are honest praise him.” (Psalm 64:10)
Do you know anyone who is evil?
Not in the general sense that we’re all sinners, but like David describes.
They make evil plans, their tongues are swords, their words are arrows.
They attack the innocent, they cleverly scheme ways to bring them down.
They have no fear of getting caught, and could care less about God or others.
I haven’t met someone like this, though I’m sure they’re out there.
To some degree, we all have hints or moments of this, but not this bad.
David is right, people like this will face God one day, it won’t be easy.
Maybe I’m not THIS bad, but I need to honestly admit when it creeps in.
My subtle use of words to win over others, my secret hope that others will fail.
My critical or judgmental attitude about others… these are not small to God.
God hates this stuff, whether big or small, whether in seed form or fully grown.
The Lord is calling me to be honest with him, to name the ‘little’ sins.
Not to grovel, but to experience God’s amazing grace for me too – and praise him!
PRAYER
Lord, its easier to see the bigger sins of others than the supposedly smaller sins in me. Help me to see that my sins are logs to you, no matter how they compare to others.
When I confronted a staff person who was cheating us – he probably wondered: “Who will see it?” He thought he had all things covered – but it seemed to be to good to be true – so I had a hunch and thought I’m going to investigate further and sure enough I caught him red handed. I’ve been tempted before to take an advantage that I knew no one would ever know – but what stops me is knowing that God sees and if I take advantage of the situation – I know He knows! God knows and I would be cheating him. Like Jonah – God will find me! Instead Lord Jesus, let me always be led by the desire to do all in your way! Because I want to – not out of fear.
We are always ready to speak about the evil of others – the words they say, the acts they do, the hurts they cause. I need to look in a mirror and see myself and see me as I see others. I need to see myself as God sees me and not as I see myself. His vision is 20/20, and mine isn’t. I need to speak His love to others and show the love of Christ by being His hands and feet, doing His will and not my own, for I too need His love to make me an instrument of His peace.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.