Title Sin is the enemy of faith
Contents
Hymn: 330 “To Take Off the Yoke of Pain”
Meditation: Have you ever turned away from God because of sin? How to turn it around?
Confession of Faith: Apostles' Creed
Text: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew in me an upright spirit (Psalm 51:10-13)
Word: ‘A man after God’s own heart’. It was God's praise for David. It is the highest honor and pride for Christians. Nevertheless, David prays to God to restore the joy of salvation (verse 10). The reason is his sin. Sin is the greatest enemy of faith.
Sin destroys the joy of salvation (v. 12). When David sinned, God did not take away the title of a man after God's own heart. David was still a people of God and a servant of God. However, the joy and thrill of salvation disappeared for him. Sin cannot take away our salvation itself. But it takes away the thrill and joy of salvation.
Sin destroys the joy of devotion. When there is the joy of salvation, I am glad to serve the Lord. Volunteer and dedicate. But if we sin, our heart to serve the Lord cools down. The church is forced to serve. Ministry becomes work.
Sin destroys the joy of the Word. Before David sinned, he gladly heard the word of God. I heard it as words that opened my eyes, words more precious than gold, and words sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:9). But sin has taken away the joy and sweetness of the Word. David is appealing to restore the joy that comes from the Word.
Sin destroys the joy of praise. David knew the joy of praise. He knew poetry and knew the melody. But the joy of praise disappeared from him (Psalm 51:14-15). The praise disappeared from his mouth, and his tongue moved away from the praise that exalted the Lord. David's transgression took away the praise.
Sin keeps worship from going up. God delights in the worship of his people. But he does not accept the worship of those who harbor sins. So David offers a prayer of repentance. It was because he knew that his worship could become the worship that God is pleased with when God forgives his sins (verse 19). I want you to become believers who take the problem of sin seriously.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us not to commit the folly of robbing us of our sense of salvation because of sin. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lord's Prayer