It hurts everyone.
Our biggest concern should be that it hurts the One.
Anyone who has genuinely asked God to show them how He sees their sin knows that it cuts deep.
Sure other people are hurt when we lie to them or curse them or have a bad attitude towards them but God is touched by all of it, even if it isn't consciously directed toward Him.
How does that make you feel inside, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?
I know that when I am sinned against I feel offended and hurt and sometimes reluctant to forgive right away. To ponder how much the heart of God must ache because of our sin is overwhelming.
It is when I feel this way that I need to remember that Jesus Christ has forgiven me for all of my sin and has promised to continue to forgive so long as I confess my sin and forgive others.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15
Look at the prayer of David after he sinned:
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar." - Psalm 51
It is clear in these words that David is repentant and knows personally the God to whom he is praying. We have much to learn from Scripture regarding sin.
If you have not asked God to help you see your sin as He does, I challenge you to pray and then prepare to be broken and ever more thankful for His mercy and grace. :)
Our biggest concern should be that it hurts the One.
Anyone who has genuinely asked God to show them how He sees their sin knows that it cuts deep.
Sure other people are hurt when we lie to them or curse them or have a bad attitude towards them but God is touched by all of it, even if it isn't consciously directed toward Him.
How does that make you feel inside, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?
I know that when I am sinned against I feel offended and hurt and sometimes reluctant to forgive right away. To ponder how much the heart of God must ache because of our sin is overwhelming.
It is when I feel this way that I need to remember that Jesus Christ has forgiven me for all of my sin and has promised to continue to forgive so long as I confess my sin and forgive others.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15
Look at the prayer of David after he sinned:
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar." - Psalm 51
It is clear in these words that David is repentant and knows personally the God to whom he is praying. We have much to learn from Scripture regarding sin.
If you have not asked God to help you see your sin as He does, I challenge you to pray and then prepare to be broken and ever more thankful for His mercy and grace. :)
