When we are tempted to sin, and we make a choice to give in to it, then at that point, we are sinning against God. We are rebelling because we choose to disobey God. When we choose to disobey God, it affects our relationship with Him. We grieve the Holy Spirit who lives in us because of our disobedience. As a result, God convicts us of our sins and urges us to confess our sins and repent from them. We feel guilty and ashamed. However, we have two choices at this moment: either we confess and repent from our sins or continue to live in our sins and disregard God. The more we disregard God, the more our heart becomes hardened with sins. The longer we stay in sin, the more we destroy what is good in us. Sin ruins our relationship with those people we love. It stops us from walking in the will of God. It takes away our peace and joy and will eventually lead us to destruction and even death. Sin can be exciting, but it doesn't last forever. We will eventually reap the bitter consequences of it.
Individuals and families have been destroyed by sin, such as adultery, unforgiveness, cheating, lying, affair, lust, alcohol, drugs, pornography, love of money, materialism, greed, jealousy, fits of anger, and so on. When David was tempted to have a relationship with Bathsheba, who was married to Uriah, he had a choice not to give in to the temptation. David already had wives and had everything that he wanted as a king of Israel. However, his sexual appetite wanted more. He then took Bathsheba and had a sexual relationship with her in secret. Bathsheba then got pregnant. David then tried to cover it up by manipulating the situation to have Uriah have a sexual relationship with his wife, Bathsheba. However, it failed because Uriah was in the middle of a battle against their nation's enemies, and he didn't want to sleep with his wife. David eventually murdered Uriah to have Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12). God then stepped in and rebuked and disciplined David. The consequences of his sins were great. Bathsheba lost the baby, and family conflicts would never leave in David's family.
David had suffered a lot because of the consequences of his sins. When God disciplines us, He is saving us from destroying our lives. God's discipline is for our own good because if God doesn't intervene in our sins, we will eventually destroy our lives. The only way out of our sins is to confess our sins and repent. David ended Psalm 39 with prayer, "Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my savior (vss. 21-22)."
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). What should I do when I am being tempted? What's the only way out of my current sin? Why does God discipline me?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for not giving up on me even when I am sinning. Please forgive me for all the sins that I have done. Please do not let my heart be hardened with sin. I confess my sin and repent from it. Please do not abandon me in my sin, but change my heart and lead me to your ways. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.