Third Day of Lent
Posted on March 4, 2022 by under
Scripture: Proverbs 6:12-19 (NKJV)
6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.
Devotion
Perverse: “turned away from what is right or good.” This is an accurate description of sin. One who turns away from God, obviously, is turning away from good. As Jesus said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). When Christians view themselves in the light of God’s Law, all we find is perversion.
All of the foul things listed in today’s reading apply to us, as well as to those we would quickly want to label as “perverse.” No help is found in God’s Law, because God’s Law always accuses. Fortunately, God has another aspect of His Word, the Gospel, by which He would have all people to be saved. In the Gospel the believer hears God’s voice of forgiveness for a conscience smitten by His Law. This Word turns the person’s eyes away from the sin that lingers to the Christ who suffered and died to pay the price for those sins, and rose again from the dead.
Every day the Christian lives with a battle that rages on inside because we are simultaneously sinner and saint. Thanks be to God for giving His people the Holy Spirit in Baptism. Every day the Holy Spirit moves us to confess our sins and takes us to Christ and His forgiveness. The overarching point to remember is that when the Law convicts you of sin, don’t run from God. Instead, run to Jesus, confess your sins, and trust in His forgiveness.
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with the Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
