You've had them too, one of those days/weeks/months when you look back after it's past and just let out a deep sigh of relief. Details aren't necessary here because we've all been there and can immediately identify with the experience. In the moment, the heart kind of flutters and the blood rush causes a perceptible ringing in the ears and vision becomes a blur. Mistakes are one thing, we all make those too. Stupid mistakes however almost always introduce us to some very unwanted consequences which can be anything from mild embarrassment to serious injury or death.
Sometimes the completely innocent have to pay for the stupid mistakes of others. They had no control over the action or the outcome but find themselves in the middle of someone else's mess. It happens in marriages, families, churches, schools, cities, countries even friendships.
David knew all about his own stupid mistakes and the impact they had on his family and his countrymen. He confessed his sinfulness in just about every song he wrote, but he always verbalized his faith in the love and forgiveness of God. I have learned to truly appreciate that in him because I need to learn to do the same. Maybe you do too. Check this out, it is awesome.
"God, the one and only - I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul. An impregnable castle: I'm set for life." Psalm 62:1-2 MSG
The true power of faith is this - IT ALWAYS POINTS US FORWARD, keeps us looking ahead rather than behind. Faith gives Hope a place to exist in the human spirit. Without Faith (a positively certain vision of the future) Hope (confident expectation)cannot breathe, it cannot live. But, when the two come together and meet in beautiful communion, they produce Love, the greatest of all spiritual powers.
David repeats his previous words at Verses 5-6 and then adds these words on the end of his song, "God said this once and for all, how many times have I heard it repeated? 'Strength comes straight from God'. Love to you Lord God! You pay a fair wage for a good day's work." Psalm 61:11-12 MSG HALLELUJAH! AND HALLELUJAH!
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
AM I COVERED?
At some point, all people of any level of faith question whether something they have done and consider a sin is, will be or can be forgiven by God. We've all done and said things we regret, some of us with consistent regularity. We may reason that surely God will not forgive the same sins we commit over and over.
There is some pretty consistent theology for that line of reasoning. When you look at God's reactions to sin committed by his own people in the Old Testament, you can end up with a conclusion that you are so bad God is fed up with your continuing rebellion against his word. I have had this discussion many times with some truly good people who never feel "good enough". They have assumed that God's grace isn't good enough or powerful enough to overcome their sins, so at some point they adopted an attitude of "what's-the-use".
Paul addresses this attitude of inevitability - "I can't do it anyway so why go through the bother of even trying!" At Romans 4, he uses Abraham as the prime example of God's forgiveness and actually quotes David, who wrote, "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered, blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count sin." (Psalm 32:1-2) Following this quote Paul goes into a long explanation of how the grace of God worked for Abraham AND for all who have the faith of Abraham. God did not declare Abraham righteous because he was circumcised but because he was a man of faith. Paul then draws this conclusion: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Sin is always a transgression of the will of God and its always a serious thing to ignore God's will. However, because of Jesus Christ, we "have peace with God" and can always know that God's grace is greater than any sin we can commit. That doesn't mean His grace is unconditional forgiveness, but if we adopt the faith of Abraham and David, there is no sin that goes uncovered. HALLELUJAH!
There is some pretty consistent theology for that line of reasoning. When you look at God's reactions to sin committed by his own people in the Old Testament, you can end up with a conclusion that you are so bad God is fed up with your continuing rebellion against his word. I have had this discussion many times with some truly good people who never feel "good enough". They have assumed that God's grace isn't good enough or powerful enough to overcome their sins, so at some point they adopted an attitude of "what's-the-use".
Paul addresses this attitude of inevitability - "I can't do it anyway so why go through the bother of even trying!" At Romans 4, he uses Abraham as the prime example of God's forgiveness and actually quotes David, who wrote, "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered, blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count sin." (Psalm 32:1-2) Following this quote Paul goes into a long explanation of how the grace of God worked for Abraham AND for all who have the faith of Abraham. God did not declare Abraham righteous because he was circumcised but because he was a man of faith. Paul then draws this conclusion: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Sin is always a transgression of the will of God and its always a serious thing to ignore God's will. However, because of Jesus Christ, we "have peace with God" and can always know that God's grace is greater than any sin we can commit. That doesn't mean His grace is unconditional forgiveness, but if we adopt the faith of Abraham and David, there is no sin that goes uncovered. HALLELUJAH!
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