Stephen’s hiccups just would not go away! His mom tried giving him honey, then she suggested he count to ten while holding his breath and several other methods, but nothing worked. Then she remembered having heard someone say that sometimes a sudden surprise will stop them. Stephen’s mom thought it was worth a try, so without thinking about what she would say, she turned to Stephen suddenly and with a gruff voice said, “STEPHEN! WHAT WERE YOU DOING LAST TUESDAY AFTERNOON?”
There was a long silence as Stephen’s face became white with guilt. All he could think was, Who could have told my mom? He was sure no one had seen him!
But Stephen had forgotten to look up. “Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:1313And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? (Genesis 16:13)). And though no one on earth had seen Stephen in his secret sin that Tuesday afternoon, God saw, and He sent His messenger, the hiccups, to tell on him. And sure enough, as soon as the hiccups’ assignment was finished, they went away.
Do you have some secret sins that you are sure no one else knows about? Everyone has some, for we are all born sinners. Luke 8:1717For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. (Luke 8:17) says, “Nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest [displayed]; neither anything hid, that shall not be known.” This could be very embarrassing for all of us. But you know, boys and girls, God is so kind that He says, “If we confess our sins [to Him], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). Then he assures us, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)). Since Christ bore our sins in His own body on the cross, we have only to rest in the fact that He has taken our punishment for us and realize that what God no longer remembers we must not think about anymore either. Now God says in Philippians 4:88Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8) that we are to think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report. When we think of our Saviour, we think of the whole list at once, don’t we? But God also wants us to notice these traits in others. Seeing these traits in our friends and relatives is God’s love working in us.
Now it may surprise you to know that just as God does not want us to have secret sins, He also does not want us to have secret love. He says “open rebuke is better than secret love” (Proverbs 27:55Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Proverbs 27:5)). So tell those around you today how they have helped and encouraged you in your Christian life. It may come at the very time that Satan is trying to discourage them by telling them what a failure they are. You can be God’s messenger to encourage them to continue in well doing.
How about starting right now with your mom and dad?
ML-04/01/2012