Thursday, 2019-08-15

Bible Reference: Psalm 51:10-12
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)

Bible Text: ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God;
    restore within me a sense of being brand new.
¹¹ Do not throw me far away from Your presence,
    and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by You;
    let Your willing Spirit sustain me.

OBSERVATION: I trust Christians will meditate on this devotional today even after carefully reading the theme, because the Word of God reminds us that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In fact, throughout God’s Word He teaches that sin separates us from God, for He is holy, and sin is not at all holy. So as we meditate today I want us to be conscious of those times that we have sinned, and what our actions have been, following that experience. How were you restored with the Holy One – Jesus Christ?

APPLICATION: For the Christian onlooker, it is easy to look down our noses and condemn the sin purported by a fellow Christian. For the sinner, it is easy to feel condemned because of your sin. So how then shall we reconcile this problem? For surely a sinner is not condemned forever. It may be easier for us to consider a real life situation. I have heard of incidents where a man has been unfaithful to his wife. I have heard where these scenarios have even led to divorce. But then I have heard of scenarios where that husband later went and confessed his sin to his wife and pleaded for restoration. The two did such a fine job that the couple remarried and are now enjoying many more years for trusting, loving relationship and trust in each other. For some of you, this may sound like an impossible task for you, but I want us to carefully consider what God does for us when we bow at the feet of a holy God – One who has never sinned; One who is righteous and holy in every way, but yet we ask Him to forgive us of our unfaithfulness, our sin, our dirt, and our evil. How awesome it is that in His mercy, and in true grace, our Lord forgives and receives us back whole and truly cleansed. This is the example that helped father of the Prodical Son welcome him back home. Think about it, our Father says welcome back my son/daughter, your sins are forgiven. I paid the price for it all on Calvary – even while you and your unholy bunch were yet sinners, because I love you and I consider you my very sons and daughters. Can’t you hear our Father saying: Of course you are welcomed back into my kingdom; of course I welcome you back as my very own children? The Prodical was welcomed back as a son, not as a slave, like he asked for. So my Brothers and Sisters, if we are made in the likeness of our Father, and He is such a forgiving Father, where on earth do we get off at thinking that we are above anyone that seeks forgiveness from us? Why do we struggle to forgive and welcome back a former prisoner who has been rehabilitated and now looking to find there place among Christian friendship and mentoring? Why do we build such a hate for those who hurt us, is that not sin in itself? When they approach us for forgiveness, is it not like one sinner asking another sinner for restoration? Is it any different to a totally lost, sinner, looking into the face of a Holy God and asking Him for restoration – a clean and holy heart? God met us where we were at on our own, shouldn’t we do the same for others?

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please hold my hand and help me through this difficult and challenging life. My readers and I come across folk each day that are so different to us, and Your Word declares that we are to love them. Oh that we might be reminded by Your Spirit that we were once in that same position when we came to You seeking repentance. As You forgave us and restored us to oneness with You, may we also be understanding of others so that they may see Jesus at work in us. AMEN!