Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32
What an interesting set of Bible verses to read together. In the OT reading, we continue to read today about the intricacies of man's relationship with God, of everything he had to build, to wear, to do in order to be in right relationship with our Lord. So narrow a plank to walk on, so much room for error, failure, sin. And the consequences were severe - death for anyone who desecrated the Sabbath, among other things. Exile - and, consequently, pretty much certain death in those times, I imagine - for those who even dared to make incense like the holy incense for the ark of the covenant. Indeed, so easy to sin.
Yet as bad as those sins were, in the NT reading, we read of what would seem to be the greatest of sins in human history - Judas's betrayal of Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver; the sale of a man who, to Judas, must have not just been rabbi, but friend as well, if he did not believe Jesus was the messiah. Judas chose money over Jesus; and, shortly thereafter, the disciples chose their earthly lives over the Man they'd seen transfigured so shortly earlier, the Man Peter had so boldly proclaimed the Messiah, the Son of God. Again, so easy, so tempting to sin.
Sins. So pervasive. So damning. And yet we then get to the psalm in today's readings, and we read of the blessed one - the one "whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered, whose sin the Lord does not count against them." What does God ask? That we acknowledge our sin to Him - and He forgives. And He then becomes our hiding place; He is then able to transform us, by instructing and teaching us in the ways we should go, counseling us with His loving eye on us.
Yes, sin is pervasive, persistent and easy. And as often as I forget, I am astounded when I remember - His forgiveness is even more so - more pervasive, more persistent, easier. As inevitable as my sin is going to be, may I always remember that I do not have to suffer the wasting away of my bones, the day-long groaning that comes with a resistance to confessing my sins to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment