“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 NIV
David compares true repentance to ritual sacrifice. Though Israel had a well-developed sacrificial system designed to atone for sin, too often people just went through the motions of religion without real repentance, without a genuine desire for change, without a real love for God. We Christians also have developed rituals through which we can be absolved from sin. It may be by formal confession and absolution by a priest or pastor, or by praying a particular prayer. Confession is important in this process (James 5:16). God is not looking for outward religious action but for a repentant heart and change. Until our hearts break with sorrow at our sin, we are not quite ready for forgiveness. So often we are sad at being caught or exposed, but not sad at hurting the God who loves us or injuring His reputation by our sins. So, what have we learnt from this psalm about the prayer to God for pardon?
God doesn’t owe us forgiveness. He offers forgiveness of our sins by grace, based on the death of Christ. We must not minimize or excuse our sins but rather confess them honestly and fully before God with no mitigating circumstances. We must come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). An outward cleansing isn’t enough for God sees the heart and the heart must be changed through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This leads to the joy of unobstructed fellowship and restored access to the presence of God resulting in a desire to tell others of God’s great mercy, a desire to witness to others of God’s forgiveness.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Holy Spirit, purify our hearts so that we may have joyful fellowship with Jesus.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, You see our hearts which need to be changed. Through the work of Your Holy Spirit in our lives, lead us to the joy of unobstructed fellowship and restored access to You resulting in a desire to tell others of Your great mercy, a desire to witness to others of Your forgiveness. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
John 19:16b-25
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