March 20, 2018 Tuesday

“« To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. » Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight — That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” (Psalm 51:1-6 NKJV)

            When I first became a Christian David amazed me and I struggled with him being “a man after God’s own heart” since David was responsible for so many terrible things.  How could he be “a man after God’s own heart”?

            The answer is seen in the rest of this passage as David cries out to God for forgiveness with his whole heart.  David is constantly bothered by his sin and thus is not only confessing but seeking to change who he is.

            David not only sees his sin but even the many different ways he sins.  Take time to list the different words used for sin and then define them and discover the many way we often sin.

            David also shares some of the ways God forgives those who confess their sin.  As with sin forgiveness comes in many different ways as God deals with a multitude of sin and a multitude of sinners. 

            David helps us see the bad side of the Good News because the Good News is only good because we are sinners with no way out of our sin.  David reminds us of original sin which is passed along like a genetic defect. 

            The Good News is a reminder that God is righteous and merciful and we are not able to overcome sin and we must depend on God for forgiveness.  The Good News is also a reminder that all sin is against God as we break His commandments.  The God whom we sin against is the only one who can forgive us and change us!

            Do you see the sin in your own life?  Are you willing to ask God’s forgiveness?  Do you appreciate all God has done for you?

            I got very little sleep again and the weariness was so bad I couldn’t even get up from bed.  Bonnie had to help me get up and it was hard to walk when I did get up.  The muscles in my legs have been tensed so long they are very weary and do not want to work well.  As the pain in my legs decreased a little the pain in so many places increased.  I feel bad for Bonnie and Rebecca who want to help but there really isn’t any way they can.  But God gave me a wonderful time of prayer and watching Matthew on TV helped renew my soul and my strength.