Self-watch/Prayer

Many and vast are my sins...O King, they cannot be numbered; despoil me of them, O God; break, smite, and war against them; ravage, bend, and wither them; take away, repel, destroy them...remove, scatter, and cleave them; subdue, exhaust, and lay them low.

  - Anonymous, Litany of Confession (Irish 15th century)

My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning...I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

  - Psalm 38.5, 6, 8

We must not be cavalier about the matter of sin. We are redeemed, we trust in Jesus Christ, but we continue to be sinners, and to sin. Our hearts are not pure. Our minds are filled with self-interest. Our values and priorities are confused. And our daily practices - if only by neglecting to do good - reveal the rebellion that persists in our souls.

We don't feel ugly within. We can honestly say that, compared with some folks, at least, we seem to be pretty decent. But we are sinful and prone to sin.

This is not to say that a work of sanctification is not under way within us. It is, and we strive each day to improve in the Lord's salvation. But, if we're completely honest, we will admit that there is never a day that we do not need to confess and repent of some sin, be it ever so small.

And no matter how "small" our sin, it drove the nails into Jesus and tore the flesh of His back. So let us not minimize the awfulness of sin; rather, let us learn to hate sin (Ps. 97.10), to hate it so much that the minute it seeks to establish a presence in our souls, we'll know it, and we'll go after it in the cleansing power of God's Word and Spirit to root it out and drive it away, lest it begin its corrupting work within.

A day is coming when sin will be no more. But it's not here yet. Let us keep watch over our souls, to guard them against sin, and to deal with every sin as an unwelcome guest, a dangerous invader, and an insult to our holy and righteous and good Lord and King.

When we truly learn to hate sin, we will begin to advance in righteousness.

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

Visit our website and download the free brochure encouraging you to enlist others as serious readers in the Kingdom. Our Campaign for Christian Literacy is under way, and we need your help.

Visit Chuck Huckaby's column on the website and listen to his interview on American Family Radio. Chuck is featured the second Tuesday of every month. If you don't know what the social gospel is, here's a good opportunity for an important history lesson.

Prayer for Revival will meet next Thursday night, the 17th, at 9:00 Eastern. If you would like to join us on our new prayer platform (online), send me an email and let me know.

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.