thursday AUGUST 8 Opinion Judg. 16:28–30; Healing Power Psalm 51; Matt. 26:69–75 David is the author of one of the best-loved psalms, Psalm 51. In this song of confession and repentance, he poured out his sorrow for the sins he committed against Bathsheba and her husband. In return, God re- moved the pain that so conflicted him. How wonderful it is to experience His healing power. Samson was well known for his strength and for the foolish things he did with it. Yet in Judges 16:28–30, we read how God gave him one last moment of unbelievable strength. Despite the folly of his former years, it seems that he used this strength “to redeem, in the last moments of his life, his lost opportunities. The taunts attributing the victory of the Philis- tines to the heathen deity Dagon may have aroused his soul to vindicate the name of the God of Israel upon whom he himself had brought such dishonor.”1 Then there is Peter, a fisherman whom Christ chose to be one of His disciples. Think about when Jesus told him that three times he would deny his Savior. Think about how sure Peter was that he would not! Finally, think about how Peter wept when he really did deny Christ (Matt. 26:69– 75). There’s a quote that says, “Tears are words the heart can’t express.”2 Peter’s tears were the confession for which he could find no words. Guilt is the stain of sin. Christ’s forgiveness is the stain remover. David, Samson, Peter, and many other people in the Bible teach us that God is just and merciful to us when we confess our sins and repent of them. He is there when we call upon Him for forgiveness. He is waiting to wipe away our sins and our sorrows. He is ready to extend to us His grace. And once we are able to confess and repent of our sins with our soul and not only our minds, we will experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Then we will know that God is near and happy that we have made Him our Confidant. How wonderful it is to experience His healing power. REACT 1. Why is it so easy for God to forgive us but so hard for us to forgive others? 2. How can we forgive others as easily as God forgives us?
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 00:02:16 +0000
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