you Good morning. I'd like to encourage you for the journey ahead today with a few thoughts from Matthew's Gospel in chapter 14. Have you ever noticed how conflicted the human heart can be when you know you're guilty of something and the truth is stinging There's a conflict that goes on, isn't there, a lot of times? Because on the one hand, you know what you're doing is wrong, but you want to do it. I bring that up because of what we read in Matthew chapter 14, and it's the case of Herod and his dealings with John the Baptist. John the Baptist comes to Herod and confronts Herod with the fact that Herod's relationship with Herodias is an illegitimate relationship. It's not biblically acceptable. It is sin against God. It's unlawful. Why? Herodias is Herod's brother's wife, and he has gone through some machination to take her to himself and get Philip out of the way. Well, John confronts him with this. Well, you know, Herod knows it's wrong. He knows he's guilty, but he can't stand John telling him this, so he throws him in prison. But here's where it gets interesting. On the one hand, he'd love to put John to death, but he's afraid of the people. He's afraid people will rise up against him because the people respect John, so he doesn't put him to death. He just throws him in prison. And yet, Mark tells us that he would bring John out of prison frequently because he liked to hear him, he liked to hear what John had to say. You talk about a conflicted soul. And then comes the opportunity for Herod to get rid of him. His wife's daughter comes and dances a sensual dance before Herod, and in his passion, he says to her, you know, ask anything you want, I'll give it to you. And she asks for the head of John the Baptist, and Herod doesn't want to follow through. He doesn't want to execute John. Why not? I thought he did want to execute John. Well, again, it goes back to the conflict of the human heart when you know what you're doing is wrong, and you appreciate hearing the truth because it confronts you, and you know it's true, and yet you don't want to give up what you're doing that you know is wrong, and you'd like to get rid of the messenger, but on the other hand, you respect the messenger. Oh listen, how much better it is just to deal with the sin, to repent of it, root it out, get it out of the heart, get it out of the life, and it's amazing how quickly the peace of God that passes understanding comes and settles upon the heart and the mind and the soul. Let's take this challenge from Herod today, and let's be encouraged to keep a short account of sin. When we are confronted with our sin, and God's Word is open before us, and our sin is pointed out to us, Let's not cover it up. Let's not get angry with the messenger. Let's not reject the truth. Let's embrace it. And let's repent and reject the sin. So our Father and our God, I pray that by your grace, you would help us to keep short accounts of sin. And I pray that we would respond well when the conviction comes. And we pray this in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen. All right. Have a good rest of your day. May God bless you. you