No Just Cause to Sin

Scripture: You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. Exodus 23:1-3

Observation: God's law is clear - 'thou shall not bear false witness' - it is a sin to lie. However, as God is expanding on the base teaching of the ten commandments, he clarifies further the parameters of lying. In this verse, he goes beyond the commandment to not bear "a false report" to give warning about the conditions under which one may be tempted to lie. A person may be tempted to lie for bad reasons, neutral reasons, or even for noble causes:

-- To join with a wicked man
-- To agree with the majority
-- To aid a poor man

Application: There is never a good reason to sin. Jesus put it another way - not to return evil with evil - and today we have the saying that "two wrongs don't make a right". In Exodus, as God clarifies the ten commandments, he is not giving new laws, but rather he is clarifying the importance of his laws by making it clear that there is no good reason to ever break the law.

I think this way sometimes ... that I should oppose some evil or wrongdoing through whatever means possible. When I do this, I may lie to manipulate an evil person and thwart their efforts. Or I may become aggressively angry to oppose their goals. Or I may become envious of their results knowing they were ill gained. In all these situations, God is clear: I am now sinning, and there is never a good reason to sin.

This is the level of discipleship required to be a "peacekeeper", and that is my ambition of faith this year. When I do not return evil with evil - or use evil to overcome evil - I end the cycle of sin. In earthly terms, that may look like "losing" from time to time, however I know that in heavenly terms it is "winning" and brings blessing.

May I remain focused on doing God's will, by his means and methods, and under his laws, despite what that may look like to others.

Prayer: Father in heaven, please forgive me for my sins, as I do commit them daily. I know that there is no good reason to sin, that there is never an excuse. When I think that sinning will bring about good, I am forgetting that you are in control and you don't want to need my wrongful actions - that you are fully capable of making the situation right and would rather see me simply obey you. Such sins are therefore a lack of faith, and I ask for your forgiveness and strength with that as well. May I be strong enough in mind and faith to obey you daily. Amen.