Secret Sin

(Psalm 90:8 ESV) 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

I struggle everyday with the temptation to sin. Even though I’m a follower of Christ, washed by His blood, forgiven through His grace–I still find myself engaged in a battle against the enemy of my soul.

Some days my sinful actions and attitudes are obvious to everyone. My shortcomings are evident to my family, friends, work associates, and the general public. Though I try my best to avoid doing so, I frequently find myself saying with Paul, “The things I would do, I do not; the things I would not, I do.” He goes on to say, (Romans 7:18-20, 24-25 ESV) 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. … 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Other days, my sin is less evident. I think I’ve hidden the evil desires and inappropriate attitudes I deal with. And, to some degree, I succeed because no one knows what I’m thinking except me. Well, and God… That’s the point of Psalm 90:8. God has examined our iniquities closely. He has set them before His eyes. He has put His light upon my secret sins so they may be revealed. And covered!

I used to be so afraid of God finding me out. I was certain that if He knew everything I had done He could never forgive me, much less love me. But, that is why grace is so amazing! God examines our sin and issues new mercy EVERYDAY! I’m so thankful that He loves me in spite of my imperfection.

PRAYER: (Romans 8:35-39 ESV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.