THE ONE WHO SEES

“Oh no!” My voice rang out when I stepped into the kitchen. Our Labrador
Retriever Max bolted from the room. Gone were the snacks that had been sitting too close to the edge of the kitchen side. Max had eaten them all, leaving an empty plate. He tried to hide under a bed. But only his head and shoulders fitted. His uncovered rump and tail stuck out when I went to track him down.

I couldn’t help laughing when I saw him trying to hide. “Oh, Max,” I said, “Your sin will find you out.” The phrase was borrowed from Moses, when he told two tribes of Israel to be obedient to God and keep their promises. He told them: “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (NUMBERS 32:23).

Sin feels good for a moment. Like Max, we do something selfish—with no thought for God or others. It makes us feel good, but each sin is an act of rejection of God and His good ways and plan for us. Moses reminded the people of Israel that God misses nothing. “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (HEBREWS 4:13). Though seeing all, our holy God lovingly helps us to admit our sin, repent of it (turn from it) and walk with Him again (1 JOHN 1:9). Let’s admit where we have been selfish and sinful, so that we can come close to Him and follow His good ways.

Thinking it over . . .

How does the truth that God sees everything we do and still loves us encourage you to turn from sin? What will you do today in response to His love and forgiveness?