FRIDAY, JULY 21
Psalm 51:1-19
Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me."

STOP LIVING IN SIN AS A HABIT (2)

Due to man’s sinful, depraved, deceitful and rebellious nature, no one can overcome his sinful nature by himself through education, religion, strict self-discipline, or even self-torture. Thus, it is vain to seek sanctification or to live a holy life if we are not truly born again first by the Holy Spirit and by God’s Word (John 3:5; 1 Pet 1:23). We should not be surprised or stumbled when we see many professing Christians, church leaders and Bible college professors turn away from God’s Word and Truth and turn compromising, ungodly and worldly, even with financial and sexual scandals without any sincere and deep repentance because they have not been born again! Many abuse God’s grace, love and forgiveness by their repeated sins and their false repentance that are without remorse!

God’s true children may sometimes fall into temptations and sin due to their self-pride and self-complacency. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10:12). Or due to their lack of trust in and dependence on the Lord, who says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). However, once being convicted of their sins, they feel so miserable and remorseful that they have to repent right away, confess their sins to the Lord, and humbly implore the Lord for forgiveness with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. They will humbly ask the Lord to help them not to fall into that sin again. What about you?

David acknowledged not only his sins but also his sinful nature. He cried to the Lord, "Have mercy upon me, … blot out my transgressions… Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me… Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps 51:1, 5, 10). After his deep and sincere repentance, David stopped living in sin as a habit. He did not commit that sin again. Peter also repented bitterly after denying the Lord three times, but after that he did not repeat that sin, but was willing to be martyred for the Lord. What about you?

THOUGHT: Do I still repeat the same sin without any remorse?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust in Thee and rely on Thee always.