Forgiveness
by Pat McIntosh
All of us, at one time or another, has been guilty of hurting someone’s feelings. We may have even known what we were doing. We may have known it was wrong to do so, and it bothered us until we got the situation rectified. We apologized profusely. We also remember that we felt like a huge weight was taken off our shoulders when we received the forgiveness we were humbly seeking.
David realized the same easing of his burden. After his sin with Bathsheba, he was confronted by Nathan the prophet. Nathan told him a parable, the application of which exposed David for his sinful actions involving Bathsheba and Uriah.
David wrote seven psalms after this sin was exposed. In my opinion, the greatest of these was Psalms 32 and 51. In Psalm 51 David manifested a penitent, humble spirit that serves as an example for us all. He didn’t blame others or the circumstances. He merely indicated his guilt and the need for forgiveness. In Psalm 32 he told us of the forgiveness that is possible upon that humble penitence. One can easily perceive that he had just had a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
We all stumble. We are all in need of forgiveness at different times and to different degrees in our Christian lives. We need to stop and reflect often on the many blessings from God. None are any more precious than that of the forgiveness of sins. May we all manifest that same penitent humility when we find ourselves contrary to the will of God.
Sunday A.M. Sermon – The Blessing of Forgiveness (Psa. 32:1-5)
- The Blessing of Having Sins Forgiven – Acts 22:16; Eph. 5:25-26; Col. 1:13; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Mk. 8:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:17-19
- How is This Sin Forgiven? – 1 Jno. 1:8-10; Heb. 4:13; 2 Pet. 3:9; Psa. 139:7-12; Jno. 8:24; Rom. 1:16; Acts 8:22; James 5:16; 1 Jno. 1:9
- How Long Does It Last? – Psa. 103:12; Heb. 8:12; Psa. 51:7; Titus 1:1-2
Sunday P.M. Sermon – Can We Understand the Bible Alike? (Jno. 17:20-21)