Today’s Reading, Psalms 25, 29, 33, 36, 39
Focal Scripture: Psalms 36:3 “The words from his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.”
I have a difficult time being around people who do not tell the truth. I also have a difficult time being around people who dishonor others with their speech and communication. It is so bad that I have a physical reaction to this type of behavior. I was around one such wicked individual when I was dealing with some serious health issues. My doctor was closely monitoring my health with a device, and it would send information every few minutes. During one of my appointments, it was discovered that my health got worse every time I was around this individual. It was so bad that the doctor actually told me it was an unhealthy environment and wanted me to quit immediately.
In today’s reading, David is talking about the wicked person and their life. He says some very intense phrases about these types of people. Their words are malicious and deceptive. They do not act wisely and do not do good. In the verse prior, David says that these people do not hate their own iniquity. They make excuses and even justify their behavior.
As believers, this type of behavior should never be attributed to us, ever. The individual I told you about earlier claimed to be a believer, but I never saw any fruit. Their heart were wicked. They would constantly deceive and manipulate the truth to fit their agenda. In conversations, they would give a sliver of the truth and pass it off as the total truth. Then, to make matters worse, when they were confronted with their sin, there was never true repentance. Everybody else and everything else was blamed for their behavior.
Before you think I am just trying to bash this person, I am not. I am telling this story as a warning to you. This person believes they are a genuine believer. They say all the right things and look the part. However, their hearts are far from the Lord. When sin happens, and a believer is not broken over that sin, alarm bells should be ringing. Not just for the individual, but also for those who are close to that person. Why? Because when sin is not dealt with, it takes root and causes death.
My challenge to you today is to examine yourself according to scripture. When you sin and realize it is sin, do you have a broken heart or blame everyone and everything else for your actions? Do you speak ill of others? If so your in open rebellion with the Lord. This does not show wisdom or goodness. It definitely doesn’t show the fruit of the Spirit.
Sin is serious, and it must be dealt with in a serious manner. Check your heart to see if you are malicious and deceptive. Your eternity hangs in the balance.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 2 Samuel 8-9 & 1 Chronicles 18
