Do you ever wonder what repentance sounds like? Do you ever wonder what it looks like? Do you ever wonder if forgiveness is even
possible? A wonderful answer to these
questions can be found in Psalm 51. In
fact, you get a beautiful picture of what repentance sounds like and looks
like. The Psalmist was David and he had
been confronted by the prophet Nathan concerning his sin of adultery with
Bathsheba. In fact, the following chain effect of his actions led to the strategic murder of Bathsheba's husband. While most people are sorry
that they are caught, David’s repentance is genuine because he was sorry for
his acts. He was pleading with God to
have mercy on him. Why? Because of the consequences of his actions
had been spelled out to David by Nathan.
In fact, in David’s repentance, he recognized that his sin was
ultimately in direct violation to God’s character. This prayer is certainly an important
standard for everyone who is seeking genuine repentance to follow, especially
these verses: “Create in me a clean heart, O
God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12). The consequences of our sins robs us
of the blessings of a God who willingly gives grace and mercy when we genuinely
asks for it. In the first 12 verses of
Psalm 51, we get an idea of what genuine repentance sounds like. When we arrive at verse 13, we get an idea of
what genuine repentance looks like: “Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God
of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord,
open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (Psalm 51:13-15). It motivate us to proclaim the truth, inform
others of the grace and mercy that is available to them, and gives a reason to
continually devote ourselves to worship and praise for the God who saves us,
redeems us, ad forgives us. Yes. Forgiveness is possible. An important ingredient that ensures forgiveness
of all of our sins is revealed by the Psalmist: “The sacrifices of God are a
broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm
51:17). Forgiveness does not
come through throwing money at the problem or even in the amount of money you
give. It is not obtained by doing much
good. Forgiveness is possible only
through genuine sorrow and repentance and recognition that you have offended
God. It is possible. However, nothing else matters until we reach
the point of genuine repentance. May God create in each of us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us so that we can be more faithful in our life to Him.
___________________
Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right
spirit within me
Create in me a clean
heart, oh God
And renew a right
spirit within me
Cast me not away from
Thy presence, oh Lord
Take not Thy Holy Spirit
from me
Restore unto me the
joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right
spirit within me
___________________
Ethel’s daughter just had a baby and Ethel was babysitting
the newborn while the mother got some needed rest. Many of Ethel’s friends come
to visit and wanted to meet the newest member of their family. When they asked
to see the baby, Ethel says, "Not yet, wait till the baby cries.” A little
later they ask to see the baby again. Again Ethel says, "Not yet, wait
till the baby cries.” Finally they say, "When can we see that baby?"
And Ethel says, "I told you, when the baby cries." And they ask,
"Why do we have to wait until the baby cries?" Ethel replies,
"Because I forgot where I put it."
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