Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Psalm 6

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,
or discipline me in your wrath.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.

My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O Lord—how long?

Turn, O Lord, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.

For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who can give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.

My eyes waste away because of grief;
they grow weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

The Lord has heard my supplication;
the Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.

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Reflect

On occasion, I help teach a Comparative Religions class at a local community college. Many (most) of the students I teach believe the concept of sin is outdated and has no place in modern society. When speaking about religions, you must inevitably talk about the idea of sin. In many religions, there is no concept of sin as we think about it in the Christian faith.

I have spent much time thinking about how to have a conversation with people about their need for redemption if they do not believe there is a problem of sin? While thinking about this one morning, I chanced to read Psalm 6.

While reading Psalm 6 I realized that not all people might agree with the notion of “sin” against a Holy God, or other religions may not conceptualize specific actions as sin, but all people I have ever met, whether religious or nonreligious have committed acts which they deeply regret. Something that eats at them until they confess to someone or something. The psalmist uses words such as languishing, terror, moaning, and weeping. There are times when our souls cry out for forgiveness.

Christianity offers redemption. Christianity justifies the sinner in Jesus Christ. There is no redemption and justification in other religions or philosophical systems. One may receive forgiveness from someone else, but the act of harm was done and it can not be taken back. Jesus Christ takes the wrong done and redeems it at the cross. Jesus Christ justifies the sinner. Praise be to God! In turn, we can live in the light of God’s grace.  Our sin wasn’t simply swept under the rug, but it has been redeemed.

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Pray

God, we live in this world with the awareness of our sin and the consequences of it.  We carry the burden of the evils we have done knowingly and unknowingly.  Give us the humility to see the wrongs we have committed and the faith to confess them.  Thank you for Jesus who took upon the sin of the world and allows us to live in gratitude and confidence, but also grant us humility. Amen

Go with God!