Proverbs 28:13

Scripture: 

Proverbs 28:13  “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (NASB) 

Observation:

She wanted us to paint over it, but that wasn’t going to take care of the problem. An elderly customer wanted us to paint over the rotten wood at the base of her exterior door. We could have done that and walked away, but the right thing to do was to clean out the rotten wood and find out why the problem existed in the first place. 

Today's verse speaks of those who conceal their transgressions. They will not prosper. But if we confess and forsake our sins, we will receive God’s compassion. When we conceal sin, we cannot grow in the Lord. The guilt alone can haunt us until we become so consumed that we will eventually have to deal with it. Coming clean, like putting in new wood on the lady's house, gets the job done. But we still have to find the reason behind the rotten wood. In her case, it was the way the stone pushed the wood towards the door instead of away from it. Kind of like sin. If we don't make sure we are pushing away those things that cause us to sin, they will consume us.

Application:

1) Think about what you just read.

2) Ask the Holy Spirit for clarity and insight.

3) Share this with someone who would benefit from reading it.

4) Make sure others see Jesus in YOU today.

TOM SEMBER has been involved in ministering to men for over 20 years. He is an ordained minister with the AG in the NY Ministry Network. Tom lives with his wife, Carolyn, and children in New York. You can connect with Tom on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.