Friday, May 2, 2014

"Secret Faults"


   "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults" (Psalm 19:12).


   After God Himself, the person most mysterious to us is ourselves.  Especially concerning matters of "errors" and "faults," we must acknowledge how little we understand, and how much we require our the Holy Spirit's illumination and conviction.


    I was reminded of this yesterday when Frances pointed out to me (gently, but forthrightly) that over the course of 24 hours, I had lapsed into a spate of irritability and complaining.  I instantly realized how right she was as numerous instances of petty discontent and the expression thereof seemed to flash before my eyes.  Until Frances's challenge, however, I must admit to an inexcusable blindness and disregard of the wayward path I had chosen.


    I expressed my sorrow and regret to both God and Frances.  Both were merciful, thankfully.  The thought then occurred to me, "Why didn't I see the obvious?"   Certainly, I could and should have through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  In this case, however, my blindness required the vision of another human being to point out my error, even as David needed the prophet Nathan to wake him up to the sin of his relationship with Bathsheba and cruelty to her husband (II Samuel 12:1-12).  I realized anew and afresh why David prayed for understanding of his errors and cleansing from secret faults.  Indeed, apart from our Heavenly Father's faithful working to expose our sin, we'd never see or recognize the enemy even as it strangled us to death.


   I hope to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit in days to come.  In that regard, I hope to more consistently pray David's prayer regarding secret faults.  Only our Heavenly Father, through the agency of His Spirit, His Word, and His children, can open our eyes to that which should be obvious, but which frequently escapes our attention.  Mercy awaits us in such holy light as our Father exposes our sins in order to expunge them in the forgiveness and cleansing made possible through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ…


"If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin."

(I John 1:7)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

(Psalm 139:23-24)


Weekly Memory Verse

  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

(Psalm 100:4)


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