Mourning Sin
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
A time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4, ESV)
For Insight
The Bible instructs that sin should grieve us. When we read David’s Psalm 51, we can see how his sin grieved him at the deepest levels. He had to live with knowing how his selfishness, lusts, and abuse of power caused the death of Uriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, and commander of his army. David did not view his actions as sin until God sent the prophet Nathan to show him from God’s judgment what he had done.
Sometimes we are like David. God teaches us we sin in thought, word, and deed (Matthew 5:21-37). If we think we are sinless—better than others—we only lie to ourselves and to God (I John 8-10).
It’s so easy to see the “sin” of others, especially when we are impacted by it—but it takes a humble and willing heart to recognize and accept our own sin for what it is. If we’ve stopped mourning our sin and instead, thinking the wrong we do is nothing more than a character flaw then we are in a dangerous place morally and spiritually and in our relationship to God who does not excuse nor coddle sin.
Check Yourself
Today is a good day to take a personal assessment of thoughts and behavior. Like David, ask God to show you if there is anything in your ways that displease him. Confess your sin and seek God’s generous and gracious forgiveness.
Praying Ecclesiastes 3:4
Gracious Father, forgive me for not seeing my sin as sin. May I learn that mourning, my sin is not a negative thing but a needful activity and disposition of my heart and life. Amen
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 