Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 51:1-6
Ps 51:1-6
1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified when you speak, and blameless when you judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, you desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom.
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
What we may do to each other pales in comparison to what we have done to God when we sin. David says he has sinned only against God. He had committed adultery with his trusted friend’s wife, had lied about it, tried to cover it up and had finally had his friend killed. Even after all of this, his sin was ultimately against God because God was who set the standard of right and wrong. Our sin today is also against God. It is his holy and righteous standard that we have broken.
David was finally confronted by the prophet about his sin, even after months of cover-up, he said: “I have sinned.” No excuses. No explanation. No blaming someone else for his sin. He didn’t say he had made a mistake or mis-judgment. He did not get mad at the prophet for pointing out his sin. He had reproached the people of God and God himself, so he simply admitted his sin and asked God to forgive him. He knew he would have to accept the consequences of his sin.
When we realize we have sinned today, we need to follow the example of David and admit our sin and ask God to forgive us. There may be consequences that we have to suffer because our repentance and God’s forgiveness (and even the forgiveness of those whom we have sinned against) does not remove the results of our sin. Even though it is not held against us, we still may suffer because of it.
O God and heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you are a loving, gracious and forgiving God. Thank you for making it possible for me to have my sins forgiven in Jesus Christ. Give me a heart that wants to always do your will and hates sin. Help me use your power to overcome temptation and do what is right but be willing to admit when I have sinned because I do sin and need your forgiveness. Be with those who are suffering and who are sick and give them your healing and your peace. Give your comfort to those in grief. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
