“Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?’” (20:9). The question is rhetorical because the answer, obviously is, no one. John says in his first letter: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). So, think about this for a few moments right now. There is something in your life at this moment that God is not pleased about; something that is harmful to you; something that, if left undiscovered, will gradually undermine what God wants to do in your life. Am I overstating the matter or overdramatising things? Unless you are in a perfect state right now with a perfect attitude and a perfect faith, then what I am saying is not an overstatement at all. It is an unsettling truth, but it is not intended to harm. I have discovered how unsettling this truth is, but also how important it is for me to allow myself to be unsettled. When I allow this realisation to dawn on me it inevitably leads me to discover something in myself that is undermining me. When I discover this, it strengthens me and liberates me. I know I will never be perfect; I can live with that so long as there is progress. Moreover, I know that my imperfection does not make God love me less or bar me from God’s favour to any extent. The most important thing is that I am allowing God to continually bring light and restoration wherever I have gone wrong. That is what it means to be saved.
Reflect on your thoughts, motives and desires before God.
Read Proverbs 20:9-20
