August 9

2 Chronicles 35:16-Ezra 1:11
Psalm 94:1-11
Proverbs 19:24-25
Romans 3:9-31

God’s Thorn Hedges
In His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.—Romans 3:25

There are some psychiatrists who take the attitude that guilt is dangerous to the personality, and so they persuade their clients that there is no basis for their guilt feelings, that conscience and the moral universe are man-made concepts and must be eliminated. There is nothing, they say, to feel guilty about, so, as some put it: “Let bygones be bygones, and wave goodbye to guilt.”

It must be acknowledged that some ideas regarding guilt have to be dealt with in that way, for some guilt is false and needlessly torments many sincere people. However, I am not talking here about false guilt. I am talking about real guilt—the guilt that the human heart carries because it has offended a holy God. You cannot get rid of that by waving your hand and saying, “Let bygones be bygones.” Nor can you get away from sin by joking about it. Oscar Wilde said, “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” But you do not get rid of temptation by yielding to it. It becomes an act, and then a habit, and then part of you.

No, we are hedged in—thorn hedges on either side. The only open door is the mercy of God. And these thorn hedges are His provision, too. They are God’s creation enabling us not to live comfortably with evil, for evil is bad for us. God has so arranged the universe that we can only be truly comfortable with that which is good for us. Guilt cannot be banished by subterfuge. Only God can redeem our wickedness.

Prayer
O God, I know that although men might be able to help me with my false guilt, only You can help me with my real guilt. I bring my guilty heart to You for cleansing, forgiveness, and reconciliation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Further Study
Ps 32; Ac 2:37; Ezra 9:6; Jn 16:8
What was the result of guilt?
What did confession produce?

Every Day with Jesus Daily Bible – August 09
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