You know how foolish I am

O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don't let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign Lord of Heaven's Armies. Don't let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. For I endure insults for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me; they treat me like a stranger. Psalm 69: 5-8 NLT

God knows our sins and our foolishness.

That doesn't mean we want everyone else to know. That does not indicate that our faults should bring down other faithful people. We don't want others to be ashamed for what we have done.

We should be filled with remorse when our sins come to light but why should what we have done wrong bring others down with us?

I suppose part of that is the nature of sin: it is more corporate than personal.

Jesus told us that the greatest commandment was to love God with all that we have and to love our neighbor has ourself. Neighbor and self are connected. In breaking one, we break the other. Our sin affects us and our neighbor. We don't like to think so, of course. Afterall, what we have done in the privacy of our own homes should not have anythign to do with other people.

Yet, the psalmist understands that his shame really does affect others. Even his own brothers treat him as a stranger.

How are your sins and mistakes affecting others?

Take time now to admit as much as you possibly can to God. Ask for forgiveness.

God, you know how foolish I am. Please forgive me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims