Thoughts for another day

Dec. 3, 2012.

Today's verse: 2 Sam. 12:14a. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When we sin, we don't think much of it because our aim is to achieve the purpose for which we were to sin; at times not even because of a helpless situation, not that the 'wrongness' of the sin diminishes, but in rare cases, can still be condoned, as against wanton wrong-doing.   We never realise the hurt we cause God, both in the worldly realm, as in David's sin, of which reference is made above, and the spiritual realm, of which there's a reference in the Book of Job.

In Job, we see the challenge satan puts before God of his appraisal of Job, whereby he says that if God had not put a hedge of protection around him and blessed him abundantly, then Job would not fear God and abide by His ways.  But God takes the challenge and asks satan to do what he wills but not touch his life.  Now we know what happens and though Job argues he is innocent, he yet does not err against God.  And satan stands silenced before God for he discovers that there're men like Job, who may get, the not-so-good things in life and yet, are unshaken in their faith in Him! On the other hand, God had blessed David and made him king over Israel, but he committed a shameful act with Bathsheba and got Uriah her husband killed purposely, to hide his sin with her.  David was known as a man of God and blessed by Him abundantly; but his shameful act became known to the people.  Now, because God had blessed him and raised him to be king, it amounted to David sullying the Name of God before the people and worse, even those who were anti-God by giving them a peg by which they could 'insult' Him. That is what Nathan the prophet tells David. 

Today, when we're blessed by God and kept by Him, our sinning against Him also serves to sully His Name, both in the worldly realm, if we're known to be men of God like David, and in the spiritual realm for satan gets occasion to insult our precious God on our account.  So its right for us to think about this aspect before we sin for we also know that God is offended and hurt grossly by our sins and eventually His justice would demand withdrawal of His blessings from our lives.