READING: Psalms 10-12, Acts 19:1-20
“The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’”
Psalm 10:4
Maybe you know someone like the wicked person described in Psalm 10. We may not like using the word “wicked” to describe anyone we know, but today’s reading describes one whose life is summarized in that word. What particularly catches my heart are primary descriptors of how the wicked lived his life. First, he lived as if there were no God: “The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God’” (Psa. 10:4). Second, he saw God as a God who pays little attention to what is happening: “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it” (Psa. 10:11). Third, he assumed he would never be held accountable: “Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account’”? (Psa. 10:13).
To summarize, the wicked lived his life as if there were no God – even if he seemingly affirmed intellectually His existence. He assumed he would “get away with” his sin, never facing accountability for his choices. He saw no need to turn to God for anything.
When I read that description, I think of people similar to the man the psalmist has just described: living life to gain whatever they want, with little regard for those less fortunate . . . often seemingly prospering, even appearing to have God’s blessing . . . living to gain more at the expense of others . . . but whose “mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and wickedness” (Psa. 10:7). Some of these folks even claim to be followers of Christ who apparently assume, too, that there will be no reckoning for their sinful choices. Their “faith” asserts that there is a God, but their lifestyle practically denies it.
I pray that these verses do not describe my life, but I can’t help but wonder how often my choices suggest that I think like the wicked man in Psalm 10 – thinking God doesn’t see my sin and won’t hold me accountable to it anyway. It seems to me that the more flippant I am about my sin, the closer I am to the wicked man’s position.
ACTION STEPS:
- Ask God to convict you over any wickedness in your heart. He will call you to account.
- Pray that every choice you make today will give evidence of your relationship with Christ.
PRAYER: “God, I don’t want to do anything today that would suggest that I’m not fully committed to You, both privately and publicly. Help me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 13-15, Acts 19:21-41
