Main Text
Psalms 19:10-14
Watchword
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
Psalms 19:12 NKJV
The main reason why secret sins are so dangerous is that it will not remain a secret forever. When you least expect it, something will happen to expose your sin. We may think that we can conceal our sin from others because of our cleverness or because we kept it hidden in our thoughts only, but sin has a way of exposing itself. (James 1:15). All sin is hated by God. We tend to think that murder is more of a sin than wanting someone dead. (Matthew 5:22-24). A sin is a sin, whether done in private or before the wide world. Do not measure sin by what other people say of it but measure sin by what God says of it.
Just as we have warning sirens which erupt into a wail when conditions are ripe for a tornado, so also God’s law sets before us the lines which we must not cross without tremendous consequences to pay. To listen to the warning provides reward. But God’s Word does not just warn of impending sin, it also reveals the presence of sins committed. (Psalms 69:5). Self-righteousness comes partly from pride, but mainly from ignorance of God’s law. Self-righteousness and hypocrisy flourish when a superficial knowledge of the law is maintained, so that people foolishly imagine they are really good before God.
Secret sins block God’s blessings. God does not promise to answer our prayers when we are allowing secret sins to dwell in our hearts.(Psalm 66:18 ; Psalms 51:6).
Secret sins are most suitable to deceive us.
We tend to think that secret sins are not as bad as open sins. If we can’t get arrested for it, or our neighbors does not know about it, we are more apt to think that those sins are not all that bad. The main reason why those who have secret sins try to avoid any meaningful contact with God is that they live their lives constantly fearing that others may find out what they are really like. (Numbers 32:23 ; John 3:20).
Confession
Oh Lord, keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings against every error and secret sin.
Prayer
Oh Lord, give me a greater desire to be like you in every way as I seek to live my life pleasing to you by your word. Amen.
Additional Reading
1 Corinthians 4:4-5
Job 6:24.