Spiritual Danger
READ: Psalm 7
What do you consider dangerous? Playing with fire or fireworks? Driving over the speed limit? Skydiving? A certain neighborhood in town? A certain group of people? What in your life represents real danger?
Sin is dangerous. In fact, sin is deadly – eternally deadly. Psalm 7:11-13 (NLT) says, “God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day. If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows.” Sin is definitely dangerous.
So what hope do we have? Everyone sins, right? Does that mean that everyone is in trouble with God? You bet it does. But God found a solution for his wrath – his own righteousness. In verse 7, David asks God to “Judge me…according to my own righteousness…” But we all know that no one is righteous. So how could David ask God to make his judgement according to David’s righteousness? Look again at the last verse of the Psalm. “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness…” David doesn’t say he will give thanks because of “my” righteousness, but because of “his” righteousness, that is, God's righteousness. Romans 3:21-22 says, “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” David understood and believed that his righteousness came by the grace of God through the promised Savior Jesus.
Indeed sin is dangerous, not to be taken lightly, and to be fought against. But thanks be to God that because of HIS righteousness, given freely to us through our Savior Jesus, we are righteous before God! By faith, we no longer fear the wrath of God.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Does having God’s grace mean we can sin all we want? How do we show love to God for the forgiveness of our sins? Why is it important to avoid sin, even when it’s freely forgiven?
THINGS TO PRAY ABOUT: Ask God for a rich measure of his Spirit to protect you from the attacks of the devil and your sinful flesh. Thank God for giving you the opportunity to show your love for him by gladly and willingly following his commands.