HomeWord - July 10, 2008

"I'm Sorry" 
This devotional was written by Jim Grams

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  Psalm 51:1-2

David’s plea for forgiveness came after his terrible sin was revealed to him by the prophet Nathan.  David had gone to great lengths to hide his sin, but we know that, in the end, our sins are always discovered.  We’ve all quoted Numbers 32:23… “…and be sure your sin will find you out.”  And it will.

I have a teenage granddaughter we call Breezi.  When she was just learning to talk, she loved gum.  The problem was, she ate it instead of chewing it.  One day, after giving her one of my “Papa lectures,” I gave her some gum and watched her begin chewing.  A few minutes later, she was standing in front of me with huge brown begging eyes, asking for some more gum.  I was shocked and told her I was disappointed in her.  Let me quote her pitiful confession: “I torry, I twallowed it.”

It’s so easy to try and hide our faults and sins.  It’s so easy to roll our eyes and tell God how sorry we are and then go right on doing our own thing. When the prophet Nathan illustrated to David how awful his sin was…he finally got it.  We need to be very careful that we don’t treat our sins as little things.  Just give me another stick of gum, God, and this time I’ll be good.  Ooops, I did it again.

God’s forgiveness is absolutely awesome, and He offers it to us every time we come with our confession.  But the confession must be genuine.  I’m reminded that God looks at our hearts.  He sees our motives and hidden agendas.  The Scripture teaches us that nothing is hidden from His eyes. Scripture also teaches us that all sin is forgivable!

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GOING DEEPER:

1. Look inside your heart today.  Is there a sin you’ve been trying to hide?

2. Ask God to forgive you right now…just give Him your hidden sin.

FURTHER READING:
II Samuel 12:1-7, 13; Psalm 51:10-12

Jim Grams lives in Glen Ivy, California where he divides his time in ministry as an Associate Pastor and with HAVEN Ministries

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