“Our Daily Bread” http://odb.org
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie http://www.harvest.org/devotional
Written by Loius Mize, a Facebook friend
“Confession and Repentance”
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. v.3: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before thee.
Psalm 51:2-3
Forgiveness of our sins is essential for us to experience the joy that God desires and intends for His people. When you and I approach the throne of God’s mercy and grace in confession and repentance, God hears our prayers and answers them in accordance with His perfect will and ability. David had committed some horrible sins with his adulterous encounter with Bathsheba, and no doubt, his sin and his guilt was making him sick and miserable.
It is interesting to me that David did not take the first step in coming to God with a broken and contrite heart. GOD took the first step when He sent the prophet Nathan to confront him with these sins that David thought nobody knew existed. (2nd Samuel 12) For you see, there must be conviction on the part of God before there can ever be seen by us the need to approach God in confession and repentance.
We receive God’s grace by admitting to Him that we are NOT GOOD. The Bible confirms our badness, and not our goodness. We receive His forgiveness by asking for it, and not by telling God how good we have been, how good we are, and how good we are going to be in the future. For you see my friends, it is GOD and not popular opinion that determines what is right and what is wrong. And it is God that determines how you and I must approach Him when we have sinned against Him. For all sin is against God. We must seek His forgiveness not on the basis of who we are or who we intend to be and the things we intend to do, but on the basis of WHO GOD IS, and what HE has said and promised to do.
This morning I thank and praise God for His forgiveness and His mercy. I need it. You need it. All of us need it. NONE of us deserve it. It is obtained thru God, and by His wonderful mercy and grace. And when we receive it by God’s way, we are on the path to experiencing joy once again. Don’t miss it!
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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com/2016/12/19/the-gospel-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-12182016-written-by-bruce-r-mills/
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
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