If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”  (Matthew 5:29)

Here Jesus requires radical surgery: a step necessary to remove the habit of sin from our lives.

I am told that when one has heart surgery, the surgeon must break or cut the sternum or breast bone.  This radical intrusion is the only way to access the heart and thus solve the problem.  When one has a toothache it may need to be extracted.   One might mask the problem with pain killer, but the source remains until the diseased tooth is rooted out.

Sin also brings pain.  The Psalmist said of sin:  “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;  my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.”  (Psalm 32:3,4)   One may mask the pain by avoiding the reality, but each time he comes down off his “high” he once again must face the consequences.  The problem will never be fixed until he confesses his sin and accepts the uncomfortable steps necessary for its removal.

Though the task of removing sin is difficult, its rewards are well worth it.  Jesus says:  “it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew  5:29)  This painful process will bring peace in this life and ultimate joy in the life to come.

By George Slover

Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’”  (Ephesians 5:14)

In this section (vs. 8-14) of the letter to Ephesus, the saints are reminded of their new direction in Christ. They are to walk as children of light, and no longer in darkness, thus pleasing the Lord. They are to reprove the works of darkness.

Paul reminds them of two separate, distinct worlds – the world of darkness, and the world of light. The immoral, lustful practices of an adulterous, Gentile world would have been in mind here when referring to the world of darkness. Even today there is a clear distinction between the impurity of the world of darkness and the light of Christ. Christians are called upon to take an aggressive stand against anything contrary to Christ.

Apparently, some of the saints at Ephesus were asleep! It is easy to relax and to be unaware of the world around us. When one is asleep, he is totally unprotected from danger. Satan is lurking and the sleepy must be aroused.

The cry “awake“ is the voice of love and wisdom. The sleeper has his focus on material interest. He has fallen prey to spiritual apathy, and a neglect of his duty to God. He is in grave danger.  But out of genuine concern, God calls the sinner to arouse him out of his sleep.

Thankfully, there is something to wake up for. Christ is the light of the world. His people are light in the Lord. Instead of hopelessness and gloom, and the burden of pain and sorrow, the sinner finds hope in Christ. The Lord offers the beauty of purity, the steadfastness of truth, and the refreshment of joy.

Therefore, let us rise from slumber and live purely in the light of Christ.

By George Slover

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)

The 32nd Psalm is ascribed to be a Psalm of David. It is rightly grouped together with Psalm 51. However, because of its didactic form, it is called a Psalm of contemplation or instruction.

The Psalm begins with a proposition - the blessedness of the one who is forgiven of sin. To clearly establish his point, the Psalmist speaks of the distress and misery caused by hidden, unconfessed sin. (Vs. 3,4)

The road to relief is clearly stated. When the sin is acknowledged and confessed there is forgiveness. This requires one to state specifically what God already knows – that his law has been broken. No excuses – one must frankly call the violation by its ugly name.

For full pardon, such an acknowledgment must be coupled with a determination to cease from the transgression. Having experienced God‘s grace, David would counsel the impenitent to consider the joyful blessings of such a confession.

Having acknowledged his own sin, the Psalmist states the fruit of such confession. Marvelous thoughts of God flood his mind. The remorse that once consumed him is replaced by songs of deliverance! “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb“.

Additionally, the penitent Psalmist has renewed thoughts of God. God is his hiding place. There is blessedness here! There is new freedom, a new joy in God, new ties of love. The burden is lifted!

With renewed confidence, David is ready to declare these marvelous truths to others. He bids us to not be like the obstinate horse that must be bridled, but to lay bare our own transgressions against God, and then rejoice in God‘s mercy. (Vs.10,11)

Dear reader, is there a song of joy in your heart, or is there the remorse of a life broken by sin? “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)
 
By George Slover
 

For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.”  2 Samuel 14:14)

Behind the scene depicted here, was the tragic turmoil in David’s house. First, his son Amnon, motivated by a perverted desire, had violated his brother’s sister Tamar. Next Absalom, David’s son, took revenge on Amnon and had him killed. Absalom then fled from his father, but David mourned for his son every day.

A wise woman of Tekoa, knowing the situation, is willing to play on David’s sympathy hoping to gain clemency for her own son who is in a similar plight. While she may have ulterior motives, there is some truth to her anxious plea.

The widow’s reference to God‘s “banished ones“ would surely strike a chord with David. Though estranged from his son, a father never loses affection for him. Even David himself had been separated from the heavenly father because of his own folly. All of mankind is alienated from the Lord because of sin.

Although we have forsaken God, he has not forsaken us. “He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.” The wise woman speaks of the ways of God – he does not take away life, but arranges a way by which those who deserve to die may brought back to him.

God’s forbearance toward sinful man is expressed often in Scripture: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God does not seek the death of sinners but has provided a way of reconciliation and full restoration. Perhaps you are the prodigal who has wandered away from God. God is calling you back.

God‘s ways of dealing with us should also serve as a model for how his children should treat others. Our character should reflect his amazing mercy and unlimited forgiveness. (see Ephesians 4:31,32)

The power of this wise woman’s appeal rests in God‘s very nature. He is not bent on punishing us, nor carrying out sentences, but is ready to forgive and bring us home if we are willing to repent.

By George Slover 
 

"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalms 16:11)

The verse above is applied by Peter (Acts 2:25-28) as prophecy regarding the resurrection of Christ. However, it’s immediate application would be to David, it’s author. There are rich promises in this verse that should encourage us.

We often speak of life as a journey. All along the way there are highs and lows, sunshine and storm. But, David shows David the right path. This path leads to God who is the source of blessings, rather than death and corruption.

The point of the Psalm is not the difference between life here and there, but between life with God verses life apart from God. The secret to ultimate fulfillment is found in communion with God. When we realize this, the challenges of this life will seem to dwindle.

By trusting God, we can cheerfully except the place he has appointed for us. David seeks God‘s counsel (vs.7), God’s protection (vs.8), and the assurance of a future life to come (vs 1). God is the only one who can make such promises. He is the only true path to life.

By following the right path, one finds that in God‘s presence is enough joy to for fill every craving of the human heart. The effect of sin is to quench our desires for God, and hinders us from following this path to ultimate contentment.

The Scriptures are designed to convict us of sin, and lift our thoughts back to God. The Scriptures tell us of a crucified risen and glorified Savior who rolls away the burden of sin and provides forgiveness, peace, security, and victory. Joy in God is found through faith in this Savior.

In this life there will be many challenges heart aches grief and pain. But, in the midst of this earthly sojourn God is a fountain of life and joy.

By George Slover