THE TENDER HEART
II Samuel 24:10
"And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done foolishly.' "
It doesn't seem to me that taking a census of the people was such a big deal. After all, there was no explicit commandment prohibiting it. Yet David had a tender conscience and knew that he had offended God, and he knew the only way to free his conscience was repentance. Even if sin does not seem very great to the outside observer, a tender heart knows when it has offended God. "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God" (I John 3:20-21). I know the feeling of a smitten conscience. How often I carry a guilty conscience when I could just take it to Jesus, get forgiveness, and restore my confidence toward God. There may be consequences for the sin, but having a clean conscience is more important. O Lord Jesus, keep my heart tender.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Even if other people do not call it sin, a tender conscience will know when
it has offended God.
[end]
Have a tender day. Love you.
II Samuel 24:10
"And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done foolishly.' "
It doesn't seem to me that taking a census of the people was such a big deal. After all, there was no explicit commandment prohibiting it. Yet David had a tender conscience and knew that he had offended God, and he knew the only way to free his conscience was repentance. Even if sin does not seem very great to the outside observer, a tender heart knows when it has offended God. "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God" (I John 3:20-21). I know the feeling of a smitten conscience. How often I carry a guilty conscience when I could just take it to Jesus, get forgiveness, and restore my confidence toward God. There may be consequences for the sin, but having a clean conscience is more important. O Lord Jesus, keep my heart tender.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Even if other people do not call it sin, a tender conscience will know when
it has offended God.
[end]
Have a tender day. Love you.
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