7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

God is willing, thru the sacrifice of Jesus, to forgive us of all our iniquity. As we consider this forgiveness, we must never think it is cheap or that it does not have any requ irements on our part. While we must recognize that it is by God’s grace and in no way can we earn it, we must accept it according to God’s terms. When we come to God in humble penitence, he not only forgives us but he then instructs us and guides us in his way. It is the same humility that brought about our repentance that causes us to follow him. When we allow him to tell us how to live, he is not being a tyrant but rather is showing his love to us and for us. Just as parents instruct their children how to live to be healthy and safe, God gives us instruction for our lives. It is when we follow his way that we can have true happiness and genuine peace. The more we yield to him, the more we are blessed by him.

But let’s go back to forgiveness. Each of us has failed to live up to the will of God. The Bible calls this sin. When we have sinned we are no longer in harmony with God. To be brought back to this harmonious relationship with him we must be made sinless. Since we cannot undo our past, the only other option is for God to remove it. Because he loves us so much and he wants that relationship restored (even more than we do), he allowed his Son to be punished for our sin. Thus, Jesus became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Now the only remaining issue for us is to determine if we are willing to submit to God and to his will.

O God, please forgive me for my failings. I want to open my mind and my heart to your will; please help me do this. Help me to never be selfish with your love for me but to share it with others around me. Give me opportunity, courage and wisdom to share your goodness with those who do not know you and your love. Mold me with your Spirit today. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we joyfully share his love. Robert