We all pray they stay secret...
The psalmist writes in Psalm 90: 1-8, 13-17: Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn us back to dust, and say, "Turn back, you mortals." For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night. You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!
The psalmist had them. We have them. Sins. Plural. Thoughts, words, deeds, that went against what we knew hurt God, and ultimately hurt others and us; but, for some unknown, and some very well known reasons, we went ahead and did them. Missing the mark is what some call the literal word of sin, as in you see the bull's eye, but you still aim low, usually low, and zap, there goes the arrow away from the spot where we knew the arrow should have hit. And until the Lord removes them, these sins gnaw away at us. Some painful, like the hunger in our stomachs; others subtle like butterflies, make that moths, fluttering around our faces.
David wrote these words first as an affirmation of faith, then a confession of sin and life. God is everlasting. We are not. A thousand years for God are like yesterday to us; all days like the renewing of grass by morning dew. And yet, on we sin, angering God, he declares; all while knowing of Your wrath. Before You, lay all our sins, even our secret sins, brightly exposed by God's countenance. Ouch! But, we like David, say, Have mercy on us, God; remove our sins and bring back gladness to our souls. Bring prosperity to the work of our actions; bring newness of life to us.
The gospel message is that God does remove sin, and does grant to us mercy and love. On the cross Jesus took away our sinfulness and offered to us a new relationship with God through Him. May it be that which we choose for ourselves today.
PRAYER: Loving God, like David, I confess that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. Remove from my spirit the sins that I have tried to hide from You. Make me a new creation that strives to please only You and not me. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
