“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51:1-3)
As far as we know, David wrote these words after he had verbally confessed his sin against God. The prophet Nathan — a man God used to speak His words on earth — gave David an immediate response: “The LORD has taken away your sin.”
But David still felt guilty and dirty and stained with all of his ugly choices. Even after hearing God’s announced punishments (the death of the baby and violence/conflict/betrayl for and from his other kids), David can’t get past the burden of his sin. It’s hard to blame him.
Most of us can relate to the memory of a sin that is always before us. Maybe you have begged God to clean you up over and over already knowing in your head that He has promised to forgive you. Let’s remind ourselves again of God’s great mercy and His unfailing love for us in Christ Jesus.
Think: Why do you think it is sometimes difficult to let go of the burden of sin even after we have done our best to make it right with God and with those we have wronged? Is it a bad thing that the guilty feelings linger? Is there a difference between godly sorrow and worthless regret?
Pray: Thank God again that Jesus paid for all of your sin when He died on the cross. Thank Him for His mercy. Ask Him to help you not to forget His grace and also to remember that you are forgiven in Jesus.
Do: Read and think about 2 Corinthians 7:10.