By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
SABBATH
THEME: WHEN THE TRUSTED DISAPPOINT GOD“
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 130:3-5
“[3]If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? [4]But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. [5]I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.”
REFLECTIONS:
Were it not for the grace of God, no human being would be alive. Sin kills, and “. . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23. Paul explains the dominance of sin in us in Romans 7:15,18-20 – “[15]For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. [18]For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. [19]For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. [20]Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” This defines the natural person.
David was forthright in Psalms 51:4-5 – “[4]Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. [5]Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Thus, we have inherited the propensity to sin – the default in our DNA. Every sin we commit is against God. Even as a man after God’s heart, David committed heinous sins. But the sincerity and depth of his sorrow for disappointing God called forth God’s mercy and forgiveness. Though David committed terrible sins, God’s purpose for his life as a man after His heart was intact. He needed to repent, confess, and return to God. Psalm 51 is the testimony of his remorse and repentance. That God forgave Him gives us hope, too.
Have you ever considered the thought that God has faith in you? Unless you betray His trust in you, He is confident that you will remain in Him to obtain the strength to live each day of your life. Grace produces forgiveness, restoration, and victory. Loyalty to God is vital to keeping the relationship alive. David said in Psalms 51:10-12,17 – “[10]Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. [11]Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. [12]Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. [17]The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” Make the sacrifice of your broken and contrite heart to God today.
Are you a person after God’s heart? How loyal have you been to the Lord? Satan is seriously targeting those who walk closely with God. The moment we take our eyes off Jesus, we will be conquered by the enemy. But since there is forgiveness with God, let us come boldly to His throne of mercy, dwell there, and begin life afresh. About our new life, Paul says in Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” David was forgiven; we will also be forgiven. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” – Psalms 32:1.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 279 – “Only Trust Him”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God that there is forgiveness in Him; thank God for His promise to give you the Holy Spirit; pray to trust God and allow Christ to live in you;
– Pray for at least five people you hardly pray for – ask God’s favor and blessings upon them;
– Intercede for Christians you know who have fallen to sin and backsliders to return to Christ;
– Pray for people in your community and country; pray for your family, friends, and acquaintances; pray for mourning families; and pray for divine healing for the unwell.
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