Are you wounded by sorrow? Or is it guilt?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There are two kinds of wounds to the human psyche. One is sorrow; the other is guilt. Sorrow is a clean wound. Somehow your heart will heal as the Holy Spirit applies His healing balm. He will pour in “the oil of gladness.” Time and the grace of God will heal.

But guilt is dirty and will never heal until confessed and cleansed by the antiseptic of Calvary. Sin will destroy your testimony. King David learned that after he sinned by taking Uriah’s wife. He had sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against his own family, against the kingdom of Israel—but primarily against God. When he realized the depth of what he had done, it broke David’s heart.

David wasn’t as concerned about what God might do to him as he was concerned that He had hurt his heavenly father. He cried out in Psalm 51,  “Oh God, I sinned against You and did this evil in Your sight.”

A true Christian realizes not only has he broken God’s law, he's broken God's heart. One way you can know you're truly saved is this: Does it break your heart that you've broken God's heart? A slave only fears his master’s whip, but a son fears his father’s displeasure. David said, “Oh my Redeemer, my Savior, my Lord, how could I do such a thing?"

When you cover up sin, it steals your joy. It takes your song. Praise withers and dies because sin destroys your testimony.

ACTION POINT:

What do you do? Like David, come to God. Are you suffering under a load of guilt? Allow the Holy Spirit to expose your sin. Without excuses, openly confess it and experience the joy of forgiveness in Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers