ALL SIN IS AGAINST GOD

“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,” 

(Psalm 51:4, ESV).

This Psalm is attributed to David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. Yet, here in today’s text we read that his sin is against God alone. Now how can this be, seeing David is the one who sinned against Uriah, by committing adultery against him with his wife, then to top it off had him killed on the battlefield? Though David had personally sinned against both Uriah and Bathsheba, strange as this may seem, all sin is against God. Why? Well, that’s because we bare the image of God and are responsible to Him. Sin committed against others is never a singular sin, it is always plural in that the sin maybe against someone or yourself, yet at the same time it is against God as well. For all sin is against a Holy God. This is where genuine brokenness, confession, and repentance over the sin or sins we committed is necessary to restore fellowship with our God. As David later said in this Psalm, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17, NASB). Then we need to seek forgiveness from anyone we have sinned against, and then forgive ourselves as well. Sometimes this may not be easy, but it is necessary if we want to experience genuine or uninterrupted peace in our relationships with God, man, and ourselves. So as you, dear reader go about your day today, remember, all sin is against God and not just your fellow man. 

Heavenly Father, we often don’t think about the sins we commit against our neighbor as sinning against you, and you alone. Thanks for reminding us of this truth in David’s words in Psalm 51. With renewed determination and trust in You O Lord, we forsake our fleshy ways to embrace “The way, the truth, and the life” (John14:6) that is in Christ. In the precious name of Christ we pray. Amen.

GOD'S HOLINESS AND IT'S INFLUENCE

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” 

(Exodus 15:11, ESV).

The Lord is absolutely Holy, there is no spot of sin in Him. Because He is Holy, His presence has a profound effect upon us. We can’t help but be changed and transformed by His very presence. When we spend time alone with our Lord in prayer, His Word, and meditation, like a search light in the darkness, His Holy presence exposes and convicts us of sin, as well as humble us to our need of God’s help. There are a few Biblical saints as well as non-believers who were affected by God’s Holy presence. Job said, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6, ESV); Asaph realized, “until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” (Psalm 73:17, ESV); Isaiah proclaimed, “And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isa. 6:5, ESV); Peter cried, “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8, ESV); even the officers were affected, when they said, “The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”  (John 7:46, ESV); Pilate declared, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”  (John 19:4, 6, ESV); and Peter and John’s boldness, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, ESV).