Scripture (KJV) — Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Reflection It is easy to look at the sins of others while overlooking the things that need to change in our own lives. We may appear faithful on the outside, attend church, read our Bibles, and say all the right things, but God sees much deeper than what the world sees. He knows our thoughts, our motives, our attitudes, and even the sins we...

Scripture (KJV) – Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Reflection Human nature often tells us to hide our failures. We may try to cover our sin from our family, our friends, our church, or anyone else who might think differently about us if they knew the truth. We may even succeed in hiding something from other people. But we can never hide it from God. This verse gives us two completely different responses to sin. The first person tries to cover it. The second person confesses and...

Scripture (KJV) – Proverbs 29:1 “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Reflection God is patient and merciful. He warns us, corrects us, and gives us opportunities to turn away from sin. But this verse reminds us that we should never mistake God’s patience for permission to continue doing wrong. Solomon describes someone who has been “often reproved.” This is not a person who was warned only once. God has dealt with him repeatedly, but instead of listening, he continues to harden himself against correction. That is dangerous. Every time we...

Scripture (KJV) – 1 John 3:16–18 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” Reflection It is easy to tell someone we love them. It is much harder to demonstrate that love when it requires...