Thursday, March 8

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

"10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

(Psalm 51:10-13)

Today's reading includes Psalm 51, David's clarion call to repentance after Nathan's revelation of his adultery with Bathsheba.  In the psalm, we sense David's honest repentance:  first acknowledging his sin and placing proper weight on it and then recognizing the depth of God's grace to forgive him and even "restore" him.

Early in my Christian life, a mentor pointed out David's sincerity in contrast to Saul's lack of sincerity in repentance (1 Samuel 15).  After defeating the Amalekites, Saul disobeyed Samuel's explicit instructions and offered rationalizations upon hearing again from Samuel.  His repentance did not travel beyond skin-deep, as his main regret lay in getting caught.

In contrast, David grieved over his sin for seven days and afterwards turned his heart towards serving God more wholeheartedly.  His family's story became increasingly complicated, but David remained committed to the Lord.

How may we apply David's meditation to our lives today?  We find ourselves in a culture that takes Saul's approach to "repentance," focusing primarily on outward signs, such as well-crafted apologies.  True repentance, which brings even to restoration and joy, only comes through acknowledging God's sovereignty and power to heal us.  We must first reckon our sin to be cosmic treason, admit its depth to God, identify behavior or attitudes that need to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then trust God fully for His restoration.  David's pattern definitely leads to real healing.  Our sin has received its ultimate payment through Christ's blood, shed on the Cross.  That river of forgiveness brings a river of healing for those who repent.

What about sin that others have committed against us?  How may we respond?  Just as we trust God for restoration after our own sin and repentance, we may channel God's grace and offer real forgiveness to those who have wronged us.  The unforgiveness will only bring a bondage and resentment that will kill our joy and sap our strength.  Trusting that God will bring proper justice, we step forward in freedom after forgiving others.  We trust that God will protect us from further pain, and we may take measures, such as setting appropriate boundaries, to limit the likelihood of continued mistreatment.

Has God revealed sin in your life?  Would you like to take this time to repent of it and find freedom?  If so, I encourage you to read Psalm 51 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=NIV).  Then, please follow David's pattern of repentance and trust God for full restoration.

Lord God, thank You for showing us David's pattern of repentance.  We acknowledge that we have sinned against You and that we are often eager to hide or explain away our sin.  Give us courage to admit our sin and to seek transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Allow us to grow more deeply in love with You, so that our seeking after You would crowd out our tendency to sin.  Restore us to wholeness and bring joy by Your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

"At the Cross":  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zev5tHjCB_s