PSALM 19:13 – Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
THEME OF THE DAY. WATCH FOR PRESUMPTUOUS SINS. Let’s begin today with defining the “big word” in today’s scripture. In doing so, we set the stage for the seriousness of heeding today’s theme. The word “presumptuous” means “to fail to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.” It also has the meaning of “arrogant behavior to which one does not have a right.”
In today’s scripture, David is praying to the Lord to prevent him from behavior that dishonors God, comes from a prideful heart, and is forbidden in the life of God’s child. That is the exposition and application of presumptuous sin. But quickly observe in David’s prayer his plea for help. He knows his heart. He knows the tendency within himself to wander from God; even to disobey Him. He knows if the Lord doesn’t give Him “preventing grace” then he will commit presumptuous sin against Him. And if we are going to live a life of consistent obedience with joy and influence for the Lord Jesus, then we must be like David – aware of our heart’s bent toward sin and our inability in the strength of self to keep our hearts from sinning. But we want to go deeper into David’s prayer and that by focusing on one presumptuous sin we may easily tolerate in our lives.
Let’s begin with a reminder. Presumptuous sin is to know what God commands of us and then willfully disobey it. Or worse, justify our disobeying known commands. Here is one that I think is prevalent among Christians and easily committed. It is the command found in the letter to the Hebrews to not neglect or willfully absent oneself from gathering with God’s people – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Allow me to make a couple “pastoral confessions” applying the Hebrews passage. First, pastors take attendance. We do. Our vantage point of looking down and across the congregation on Sundays gives us the “best seat in the house” to know who is there and who is not. Next confession, pastors are encouraged beyond words by faithful, week in, week out, attendance of God’s people, and we are discouraged when you are not there. I am not saying “don’t take vacations, family time, and weekend trips” but if you are away more than you are in attendance or you are inconsistent on a weekly basis, please think about this. Something is spiritually wrong. Now don’t attend your churches for your pastor’s sake, but remember, God commands us to be together. We should have a reputation of faithful attendance with an occasional missed Sunday, not regularly missed Sundays. We may be committing presumptuous sin by our absence. But I want to take this away from the negative impact presumptuous sin has on pastors and bring it home to our hearts and lives.
One reason why Christians lack sustained joy, consistency in their times in God’s Word and prayer; and struggle with discontent in life is the tolerance of presumptuous sins. These are defined as “knowing what God commands and not doing what we know.” Perhaps some of us may be struggling in our walks with Him due to the allowance of presumptuous sin. Think about it. Are there commands of God we know we should be obeying and for whatever reason, we are not? Remember, God leaves no sin undealt with in the lives of His children. He may be removing the joy of your walk with Him due to presumptuous sin. Oh, one more thing . . . be in your place Sunday. I look forward to seeing you!
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I take for granted Your grace or allow behavior in my life I know is wrong.”
QUOTE: “To know what God commands of us and yet not do so are both signs of spiritual immaturity and rebellion”