June 11 Hidden Sins
June 11
Hidden Sins
“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.”
—Mark 4:22
During the first weeks of my paralysis, I recall my mother’s sitting at the foot of my hospital bed with a small scrub brush and bar of soap. “Mother, why are you scrubbing my feet?” I asked. Her reply? “Where in the world did you walk on these feet of yours?!”
What can I say? I was a typical barefooted teenager who spent most of my time in the backyard or at the community pool. The soles of my feet were callused and grayed from the dirt. Curiously enough, I never knew my feet had dirty calluses because I never bothered to look. Even if I did, I wouldn’t have cared, because that part of my body was hidden. I was more concerned about the pimples on my chin that everyone, myself included, could see.
The spiritual person should have enough sense to occasionally look, as it were, at the bottom of his feet. If we are in tune with the Lord, we are sensitive to know that everyone hides secret faults; and the wise person is the one who does not mind the Spirit’s scrubbing away the hidden sins—sins that, if we don’t confess them, have a way of ruling over us.
Hypocrisy is a hard game to play because it is one deceiver against many observers. A hypocrite will always be found out. Secret sinning, although an easier game to play, is far more deadly. Hidden sins can be concealed, and, for that reason, are far more damaging to your character.
Father, I want no sin to have dominion over me, I desire that no fault rule over me. Search me, try me, test me, and help mee to face those sins in my life that I have tried to hide. Scrub me clean!