Busted

Ralph wanted to go to the movies with his friends but attending cinemas was not allowed in his church.  So, he concocted a story and asked his mother if she would give him a ride to his friend Harold's house the next day to attend his birthday party. She mentioned they would need to get Harold a birthday gift, but Ralph said he didn’t want any presents. His mother must have known that was strange.  The next night it was pouring rain and Ralph’s mom suggested as they pulled up to a dark house that Harold's party must have been cancelled.  Ralph assured her they were in the back part of the house and ran through the rain to the front door and knocked.  When his buddy opened the door and let him in, Ralph’s mother drove off.  But the night’s adventures were just beginning. ​

You can read about how Ralph came under deep conviction for lying to his mother and the lesson he learned that night when she confronted him.  The story is found in the book he and his wife Donna wrote entitled Relentless.  It is a book full of great spiritual lessons from two godly saints who have served God for most of their lives and who are leaving an amazing legacy. 
 
Meditation
Proverbs 28:13--The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
 
Concealing sin does not lead to success. David knew this from personal experience when he wrote, “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah” (Psalm 32:5).  In Psalm 51 we see another great example of David pouring out his heart before God in confession.
​
God knows our actions and sees all that we do.  When our conscience convicts us of wrongdoing our responsibility is to admit and renounce our sin and change our behavior.  P. Doddridge wrote in Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul: 
"Behold me, O Lord God, falling down at thy feet! Behold me pleading guilty in thy presence, and surrendering myself to that justice which I cannot escape! I have not one word to offer in my own vindication, in my own excuse.  Words, far from being able to clear up my innocence, can never sufficiently describe the enormity and demerit of my sin."
The beautiful truth about God is that He forgives our sin, and He lovingly applies mercy to our lives.  
 
Inspiration
The Holy Spirit makes us sensitive to things we never thought of before.  Never object to the intense sensitiveness of the Holy Spirit in you when He is educating you down to the scruple; and never discard a conviction.  If it is important enough for the Holy Spirit to have brought it to your mind, that is the thing He is detecting.—Oswald Chambers in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)