Scripture: “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” – (25:11)
Observation: David writes about God’s forgiveness, mercies, and teachings in this psalm. His burdens are great, but he turns to God for leadership, trusting the Lord to forgive and restore, then lead according to the His perfect will.
Application: Lately, I’ve been thinking about the reasons that God does things. In this psalm, David speaks about God forgiving sin. That’s the first step taken toward the restoration of a relationship with the Lord that was broken in Eden. It is all up to God to do; we cannot do anything ourselves to eradicate the sin in our lives and reconnect ourselves to God. So, what compels the Lord to forgive us?
What do I have to offer God that has persuaded Him to save me from sin and abide with Him forever? What can I do for Him that He cannot do Himself? What accolades can I bestow upon Him to deserve His forgiveness? What act of service or penance can I perform to earn everlasting life in heaven? The Bible specifically states in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
The reality is there is absolutely NOTHING I can offer God to merit His forgiveness. So WHY did He choose to sacrifice Himself on a cross to pay my sin-debt? WHY did He allow Himself to be beaten, tortured, mocked, degraded, and murdered slowly and endure unimaginable agony for me?
The answer is almost unbelievable. God became sin for me because HE LOVES ME! That’s it. The reality is that without His intervention, I am useless to God, but He loves me anyway. I am so unworthy, but He loves me despite that. God knew even after I was saved that I would sin against Him, that I would choose myself over Him time and time again, but He still chose to save me because He loves me unconditionally! In fact, God chose to love me when when He knew everything I would do in my life… the good and the bad… the times I would hurt Him, reject Him, ignore Him… yet He STILL chose to love me. Jeremiah 31:3 is a verse I use often in my blogs because it is a verse that continually amazes me because I know how great a sinner I am. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
GOD LOVES ME WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE! I have no words to express what is in my heart…
He did for me what I’d never be able to do for myself. He redeemed me… because He loves me. When the Lord looks at me, He doesn’t see the heinous sins I have committed both before and after salvation. He only sees that I chose to place my faith and trust in Jesus, His beloved Son, for my forgiveness, my salvation, my life. The blood of Christ washed away every filthy stain of sin in my life because… He loves me. The Bible says in 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” God chose me BEFORE I put my faith in Christ.
My desire is to serve Him, and I want Galatians 2:20 to be me. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Offering myself to Him is not an extraordinary act, it’s “reasonable” according to this verse. I have a long way to go, but it’s the least I can do for the One who did ALL for me.
Prayer: My sweet Father in heaven, there are no words that I can say that express the depth of gratitude in my heart. Why you reached down and pulled me from the miry clay of despair and hopelessness to a life of abundant joy, peace, and hope is beyond my comprehension, but I am so very thankful You did. Thank You for paying the price with Your precious blood for my sins. Thank You for saving me from an eternity without You. I know I have Your promise that one day You will come for me, and I will be with You forever in heaven. My heart and soul rejoices in God my Saviour. Thank You is not nearly enough… but it truly is all I have to offer You. I love You and desire to serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul. Empty me of myself and make me a vessel of honor through Jesus that You can use. Empower me with a boldness to tell others about Jesus and His precious gift of salvation and eternal life. In His name, I pray and with eternal gratitude, amen.
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.
O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure: the saints’ and angels’ song!
(from “The Love of God” by Frederick M. Lehman)
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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16