1st February 2022
The joy of forgiveness
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight.
Psalm 32:1 (NLT)
Parenthood comes with many blessings and a fair few trials. Reflecting back over the years gives me fresh awareness of the joys and pains we must give our heavenly Father, our dear Abba. We love our children with a fierce passion we never knew we were capable of before we had them, and when we think that God loves us more than this, it is hard for us, as physical beings, to comprehend. His love is a self-sacrificing love and unbelievably, his love is unfailing.
This doesn’t mean though that in his love he won’t discipline us when it is necessary. The theme of Psalm 32 is that forgiveness brings true joy. Only when we ask God to forgive our sins will we experience real happiness and relief from guilt. This life lesson seems to be hard won.
It reminds me of a time when my children were small. My son had taken something he knew he wasn’t allowed. The evidence was clear, and I had no doubt about who had done the deed. Time and time again I asked him the question, but he refused to tell the truth. The ‘battle’ of wills played out for a long time, until finally, just about the time I was thinking I wasn’t going to win, he flung himself on me sobbing and said he was sorry.
It was a painful experience for me as well as for him. I could see how miserable he was and how much he was struggling. I longed for him to confess so I could lovingly wrap my arms around him and forgive him, but this was not something that could be forced.
How many times does our loving Father witness the same thing in us? We refuse to acknowledge that we are in the wrong and how we suffer. Our hearts are deceitful and without God we can’t move past this point. The bible says we are slaves to sin, meaning we have no power over it.
Thankfully Christ does, and in him we do have a choice: through his power we can see the error of our ways and admit our wrongs. We can ask for forgiveness. This is something our Father yearns for us to do; forgiveness has always been a part of his loving nature. Our sins are remembered no more and, like my son, we can ‘come out and play’, reassured of our Father’s love.
Children have an innate ability to accept forgiveness and move forward. We need to accept God’s forgiveness and have this joyous experience, through faith in Jesus Christ. The question remains: how long will we wait before we, too, acknowledge our sins and ask to be forgiven?
Prayer
Our loving Father, please forgive us. Our stubborn hearts refuse to admit our sins. Help us to see where we are wrong and extend your mercy to us. Cleanse us from all our sins and create in us a new heart filled with your spirit. We ask this humbly in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen
Study by Jackie Mill
About the writer:
Jackie Mill is a Minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Co-Pastor for Scotland and Ireland
Local congregation:
GCI, Edinburgh
Gilmerton New Church
Ravenscroft Street
Edinburgh
EH17 8QJ
Meeting time:
Saturday 11:00am
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church