Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.—Proverbs 21:2
The common denominator it seemed for today’s OYB reading was sin. I went back and forth on which of them would be my focus. I decided on Proverbs 21:2 because it seemed to tie it all together. Truly, man can find a way to justify almost anything he does. In my flesh, I can always find an excuse for my sin. The cross-reference verses for Proverbs 21:2 were illuminating in this regard.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.—Proverbs 16:2
If you say, "Surely we did not know this,"
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?—Proverbs 24:12
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.—Luke 16:15
God looks behind our excuses to the inward motives and intents of our hearts for our sin. You might be able to deceive yourself and others in regard to your sin, but not God. He sees the truth.
Beloved, the Scriptures tell us to keep our hearts with all diligence because out of it springs the issues of life. What helps me here is doing a heart examination to discern my true reason for doing something and then asking myself if my God would be pleased with those motives. Here is what I have discovered over my years of doing this. In my flesh, I am a biased judge when it comes to my sins...I look at them in the best possible light, give myself much grace and always want mercy. I am also a biased judge when it comes to the sins of others...I look at them in the worst possible light, give them very little grace and offer them little mercy. As for their motives, I often assume the worst.
I loved Ezra’s example in this today. I want to be like him when I grow up. Ezra, after learning of the people’s sin, fell to his knees and IDENTIFIED with them in their sin, even when he had not sinned in the same way. Ezra wept for them, feared for them,
and prayed for their repentance. Chapter 10, verse 1, tells us that Ezra’s prayer moved the people to tears. Oh, would that Ezra’s response to another’s sin, be mine, also.
If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.—Psalm 130:3-4
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?—Romans 2:4
Ezra showed the people in His care the mercy and goodness of God...this led them to repentance. May I go and do likewise.
