DEALING WITH OUR SIN

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy!" (Prov. 28:13 NKJV).

There is good advice for us all about how to deal with our sins. It speaks of covering sin, confessing sin, and concluding sin.

Covering sin – “He who covers his sin will not prosper.” The word “cover” carries the idea of concealment. Many folks have tried a number of ways to conceal their sin. But regardless of how men try to cover their sins, it is the wrong way to deal with our sin. Our verse says if we try to cover our sins, we shall not prosper or be successful in life.

Confessing sin – “Whosoever confesses . . . shall have mercy.” Confessing here means to acknowledge our sins and to acknowledge what is right before God. Therefore, confessing involves viewing sins the way how God views them. The world may not view sinful conduct as evil. But when we deal with sin we must view our sin as God views it or we will not deal properly with our sin. We must acknowledge to God that our sin is evil in His sight. If we want Divine mercy regarding our sins, we must confess our sins to God.

Concluding sin – “Forsakes them will have mercy.” Confessing is good, yet it is not enough. We must also forsake our sins, and bring our evil doing to a conclusion. Some folk do well at confessing, but not great at forsaking sin. We will not get anywhere with God with that attitude. Not only must we tell our sins to God but we must also turn away from our sins.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“When a man is ready to confess his sins, God is always ready to cover them with His blood!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Devout

In Titus 1:8 we read, “But hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled” (NASB).

Devout is the Greek word hosios (ὅσιος = hos'-ee-os). It means pious, holy, religiously right, sanctioned. It describes a person who lives right before God and so is described as devout, dedicated or holy. In classical Greek hosios is not restricted to a religious connotation but was also used for any moral imperative. In the Septuagint, hosios is found over 50 times, and predominately relates to one who is faithful, devout, and consistently reflects a religious connotation. God is described as “just and right” and “holy” in all His works (Deut. 32:4; Psalm 145:17).

In the New Testament, two references to hosios are found in the Pastoral Epistles and are applied to Christians. Paul desired that men everywhere pray, lifting up “holy” hands (1 Tim. 2:8). These represent freedom from sinful thoughts and deeds and illustrate how a believer is to approach God’s throne. In Titus 1:8, “hosios” is listed as one of the qualifications for the office of overseer. The main idea in the word “hosios” word includes personal piety, an inner attitude of conforming to what is felt to be pleasing to God and consistent with religious practices. This man keeps himself free of anything which would ‘stain’ him in the eyes of God.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah’s character will be Righteous and Faithful (Isa. 11:4)

New Testament Fulfillment – Rev. 19:11

Did You Know…

In spite of what the skeptics say, Jesus did claim to be God (John 8:24; 56-59; 10:30-33)

Bible Quiz

As an act of judgment, which two cities did God destroyed with fire and brimstone?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: According to 2 Thessalonians, how will the Lord Jesus be revealed from heaven? With angels and fire (2 Thess. 1:7-8).

Everyday Expressions Alluded to in the Bible

“He who laugh last laughs best”

“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision” (Psalm 2:4 NKJV).

“He who laugh last laughs best” - The expression “he who laugh last laughs best” carries the idea of final revenge. In context, the Lord is amused at the folly of these earthly rulers. His laugh is a mocking laugh. He holds those who deliberately oppose Him in derision, that is, He scoffs at them. The presumption of the nations and their leaders causes God to laugh - How can those who are temporal fight the Eternal? How can the creation fight the Creator? Indeed, their arrogance is sadly humorous. But then Divine laughter turns to anger and scoffing to rebuke as the Lord Himself pronounces judgment on the assembled conspirators.

Did You Know – Christian History

Born in Pittsburgh, Walter Taylor grew up belonging to one of the toughest gangs in the city. His teachers, who gave him good marks, never suspected that outside of school he was breaking into rail cars and stealing from vendors.

Interested chiefly in money and success, Walter rose from job to job, steadily improving his financial standing. He became co-owner of a pharmaceutical company. Walter Taylor had no use for religion in any form. He complained when his Christian wife wanted to hold prayer meetings in their home.

Now he was holding a one-man prayer-meeting of his own. With the death of his wife, he came to the realization that she was in heaven, and he was doomed to hell. So, on February 21, 1896, Walter was on his knees in prayer pleading with God for forgiveness. There was plenty in his life to forgive.

Walter rose from his knees determined to serve the Christ who had met his soul’s need in answer to prayer. He sold his share in the business, attended Moody Bible Institute, volunteered at the Pacific Garden Mission, married his second wife, Ethelwyn, and became a missionary to railroad men and miners in Colorado. But he felt God was calling him to work among city derelicts.

He shuddered at the thought. He still remembered being infected by lice years earlier when he put his arm around a drunk. God was not to be thwarted, however. An appeal came for him to take over the Old Brewery Mission in Montreal. He went. For sixteen years, Walter and Ethelwyn saw success in the previously unresponsive area.

Twenty years after his conversion, Walter and Ethelwyn became leaders of the Pacific Garden Mission. There Ethelwyn wrote the hymn “Calvary Covers it All,” while Walter, as director, expanded the mission's work.

A Little Humor

After she woke up, a woman told her husband, “I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s Day. What do you think it means?” “You'll know tonight.” he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it to find a book entitled “The Meaning of Dreams.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“To walk in our own way is to run away from God!”