We all sin in many ways. Even when we desire to do right, our motives can be self-serving. Even David, the man after God’s own heart prayed, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.”
What are presumptuous sins and why was David so concerned about them?
Also, read about the danger of taking God’s grace for granted and about times when we need to lovingly confront someone concerning sin or even be confronted ourselves.
Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 21 & 22
Psalm 107.1-9
Proverbs 25.14-16
2 Corinthians 7.1-16
Could You Be Guilty of Presumptuous Sins?
2 Corinthians 7.1-16:
Sorrow that Leads to Repentance
In a previous letter, Paul had rebuked the Corinthians for their unbiblical behavior. In verses 8-12 of this chapter, Paul followed up and revealed the reason he was willing to say things that were hard to say and hard to hear:
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner. What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
Paul was willing to risk making the Corinthians feel badly in the hope that they would experience genuine repentance for their sin. And when they did, he greatly rejoiced. He was willing to take that risk because he cared about their spiritual well-being and he knew that the consequences of sin are much greater than any temporary embarrassment or discomfort.
Are We Willing?
What about us? Are we willing to speak the truth in love even if it means offending someone, risking our friendship with him or her, or not being liked?
No one wants to do so unnecessarily, but when we see a pattern of sin in someone’s life, Galatians 6 tells us:
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Notice that even when we must speak to someone who is caught in a pattern of sin, we are to do it in a spirit of gentleness, examining ourselves first and continually, lest we fall into sin ourselves in the process.
But the flip side of this and just as important. Are we willing to allow people to speak the truth to us when necessary? This requires prayerful listening even when we believe their criticism is unjustified. We all need others in our lives who love us enough to take that risk because we can be easily blinded to our own sin. And even if someone’s criticism is completely unjustified, God can and will use it for good (Rom. 8.28-29; 2 Sam. 15.5-14).
For more on this subject, you might want to read:
“How Do You Respond to Criticism”
“Where is God When You’re Attacked Unfairly?”
One Hidden Danger of Religious Activity
On another note, as I reread today’s reading I started contemplating John MacArthur’s notes on 2 Corinthians 7.1. In reference to the phrase “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,” he says, “False religion panders to the human appetites represented by both ‘flesh and spirit’.”
I believe that is the reason men and women can appear religious on the outside, even serving as priests, pastors, or ministry leaders while excusing drunkenness, sexual immorality, theft, or other sins. Their religious activity can cause them to believe they have earned some favor or collateral with God. They excuse immoral sexual appetites like adultery, fornication, homosexuality, or child molestation by rationalizing about “all the good they do.”
But there may be an even more subtle way religion blinds us to sin and its consequences.
Presumptuous Sins
Perhaps the most pernicious way, religion keeps us bound up in sin is by seeing it as a system that cancels out or appeases God. We’re sometimes told that because we have sinned, we must do penance by praying a certain prayer over and over or performing some other act of contrition. It’s like writing on a spiritual blackboard, “I will not talk in class,” a hundred times.
It leads us to think when tempted, “I know this is wrong, but I’m going to do it anyway. Afterward, I’ll ask God to forgive me and do what I need to do to earn my way out.”
The problem with that thinking is that God knows our hearts and a heart that reasons, “I’ll do it anyway and confess later,” is not a repentant heart. This is what David called “presumptuous sin” (Ps. 19.13):
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
The Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon defines presumptuous sins as ones we do recklessly and arrogantly. To presume, according to the dictionary, is to take something for granted that we may not be entitled to. It’s dangerous to presume on God’s grace when we do not have truly repentant hearts.
Let’s pray as David did that He would keep us from presumptuous sins!
Today’s Other Readings:
Isaiah 21 & 22:
Taking God’s Deliverance & Grace for Granted
In chapter 22 Isaiah begins to prophesy concerning the “Valley of Vision”—a reference to Israel. God had allowed the Assyrians to threaten and attack them previously, but in his mercy had prevented their defeat. Instead of seeing God’s mercy at work, taking it as a “shot over the bow,” and repenting in thankfulness, they had taken His deliverance for granted.
In this chapter, Isaiah warns them that though they will take the next deliverance for granted and will even celebrate prematurely, God will let them fall because of their continued rebellion.
What about you? Is there some area where things could have gone badly, but somehow they worked out? Did you just “count yourself lucky,” assume it was your quick thinking that got you out of that jam, or did you think about God’s grace and mercy? Did you consider what God might be saying through that situation or will He have to repeat the lesson, this time with more severe consequences? Worst of all, could you be taking it for granted that His grace will always be there?
May we not be like our spiritual forebears and, instead, be quick to see God’s hand of grace and respond in humility, genuine repentance, and worship.
Psalm 107.1-9:
Thankful or Unthankful?
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men (v. 8).
One of the characteristics of these last days is unthankfulness. 2 Timothy 3 gives us a picture of the times in which we live:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Let’s not be counted among the unthankful lovers of self!
Proverbs 25.14-16:
Patience & Consistency
By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone (v. 15).
This is true in so many areas of life. Even when it comes to biblical truth, we are seldom going to change people by using God’s Word like a club. Instead, we must patiently and consistently, in love, share the truth while we let our light shine.
What Do You Think?
Have you had a situation where you knew you needed to have a conversation with someone about a pattern of sin in their life?
Was there a time in your life when someone talked to you about something you realize you needed to hear?
How do you remind yourself to stay thankful when it’s so easy to get into complaining instead?
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we will discover the way to perfect peace, look at the nature of strongholds, and ask the all-important question, “Where will you spend eternity?”
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And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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