h2>Virus Scan
(Psalm 139:23, 24)
I used to just be concerned about me or someone I love picking up a virus. Now I have to be concerned about my computer picking up a virus! And more and more of them are infecting various computer systems. Viruses with names like "Michaelangelo" and "Melissa". If one of those viruses contaminates your
computer, it can cause you to lose valuable data. It can even cause your computer to crash. But, thankfully, I have this special software feature that's called a virus scan. When I turn on my computer, basically the virus scan checks to see if any of those destructive little bugs have gotten in,
and it warns me if they have. And that's a good thing. You want to get it before it infects everything.
You know, your soul can pick up viruses, too. And if you don't catch them right away, they can spread throughout your system and infect everything.
That's why you need to install God's virus scan. David talks about it in our
word for today from the Word of God from Psalm 139:23, 24.
He says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:
and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting." David knew the subtle, infectious way that sin can creep into
the human heart. And he knew all too well the damage it can do. So He prays
that God will see if some spiritual virus has found a place in his heart and
to reveal it to him as my virus scan reveals to me what is threatening my
computer.
This has to be a prayer that we pray at least once a day. A spiritual system
that may have been virus-free yesterday may have picked up something damaging
in the meantime. Each new day--every time you turn your mental computer
on--you need to ask God to reveal any trash that has invaded your system.
Preachers call it the "conviction of the Holy Spirit"--God, who lives inside
you, revealing what's out of line in you and moving you to do something about
it.
As you open yourself up to the Holy Spirit's searching of your heart, you may
see a bad attitude that is starting to take root, a little resentment, a
little jealousy, a little complaining, a little negativity. It's little now.
It won't stay that way. That's why you need to recognize it and repent of it
right away while it's still small and not doing a lot of damage. For example,
God warns us to "see to it that...no bitter root grows up to cause trouble
and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15). In other words, catch the bad attitude
while it's still small before it deepens into something very expensive.
God's scanning of the viruses in you may expose some trash talking you've
been doing--words that have hurt people. Critical words, backstabbing words,
angry words, gossiping words. Or God may show you that some lustful fantasies
have been allowed to infect your heart and mind. You may have watched
something you never should have watched, listened to something you never
should have listened to, lingered on something you should have turned away
from, flirted with something you should have fled from.
Or it could be that you've told some lies lately or at least spoken less
than--or more than--the truth. God wants to confront those now so you won't
get into a pattern of deceit. In fact, that's the reason we need to see and
attack any sin right away. Because sin unconfessed becomes sin repeated and
repeated until it starts poisoning so much we care about.
So invite God often to scan for viruses you may have allowed into your heart.
Computer viruses not dealt with can make a computer crash. Spiritual viruses
not dealt with can make you crash.
Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc. Permission to reproduce this
material is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for
non-commercial purposes, will not be sold, and will be distributed for the
sole purpose of expanding the Gospel.
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