Daily Devotional
What is a Sin of Omission?
“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.”
2 Samuel 11:2
November 23, 2021
Ponder This
Second Samuel 11:1 says: “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But (notice that the Holy Spirit put the word but there) David remained at Jerusalem.” Then, in today’s verse, it was time to go to bed, but David was getting out of bed. It was at evening tide that he arose from his bed. In these two verses, we see that David committed the sin of idleness. He committed the sin of omission.
What is a sin of omission? The sin of omission is failure to do what you ought to be doing. James said, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). It is a greater sin to fail to do what you ought to do than to do what you ought not to do. If you’re doing what you ought to do, you can’t do what you ought not to do, right? Nobody can do two things at one time. If we’re doing what’s right, we can’t also be doing what’s wrong. If we’re thinking what’s right, we can’t also be thinking what’s wrong. David got in trouble simply because he was not doing what he ought to have done.
- What is something you know you should be doing but have failed to do?
- How might you practice obedience to avoid sins of omission today?
Practice This
Make a list of things you know God is calling you to do, but you hesitate to act on. Create a plan for how you will practice obedience in these areas and then follow that plan.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
