Good and Forgiving

Psalm 84:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

As I read this verse I was reminded of the words of a song quoting another verse that says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22, ESV). Put the two together and I see that God’s mercy in the forgiveness of my sins never ceases. What a relief because I never cease to come to the end of my sin! I find that what I teach about one day I’m rebelling against the next – but never thoughtfully or intentionally; I don’t mean to sin.

At the dinner table last night a word came out of my mouth that hasn’t crossed my lips in years. Where did that come from and why did it come? In God’s grace He allowed me to hear it loud and clear as it came out and I was immediately convicted. I wanted to blame Satan or the discomfort I was talking about for “making” me do it. Unfortunately, blame who I will, it was I who needed to confess it and I knew it right on the spot.

1 John 1:9 says that “if we confess our sin Gods is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” At the sound of my sin last night I was immediately not just sorry but repentant, I wanted to turn from that sin and not do it again and in my heart I told God so. Then He reminded me that He is good, forgiving and abounding in steadfast love. I was relieved by those promises and God’s character that made me sure that God keeps His promises.

Sometimes I get confronted or even rebuked for a sin and I am not repentant. I am sorry I got caught at it, but I don’t immediately want to turn from it. This usually happens when I feel perfectly justified in my own anger or unforgiveness. The Lord may use that same kind of rebuke that He did last night so that I see it as sin, I’m just not ready to give up my hurt feelings or my wounded pride, usually the root of any hurt feelings for me. The problem with this response (or lack of one) is that I am compounding my sin. Now I have the anger or unforgiveness and pride and I pile on unbelief and a failure to repent.

You see, God doesn’t want me to just recognize my sin, but to confess it and turn from it (repent). If all we do is acknowledge our sin but we fail to confess it we’re living in pride, unwilling to admit that it was actually a sin against God.

Do you believe that God is good, forgiving, and that He steadfastly loves you? He went to great pain in the sending of His Son to take our sin – every sin. This is a statement of His steadfast love. What sin is He asking you to turn from, not just confess but turn from?