Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Psalm 86:5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
In A Forgiving God in an Unforgiving World, Ron Lee Davis retells the true story of a priest in the Philippines, a much-loved man of God who carried the burden of a secret sin he had committed many years before. He had repented but still had no peace, no sense of God’s forgiveness.
In his parish was a woman who deeply loved God and who claimed to have visions in which she spoke with Christ and he with her. The priest, however, was skeptical. To test her said, “The next time you speak with Christ, I want you to ask him what sin your priest committed while he was in seminary.” The woman agreed.
A few days later the priest asked., “Well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?”
“Yes, he did,” she replied.
“And did you ask him what sin I committed in seminary?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“He said, I don’t remember'”
What God forgives, He forget. – David H. Bolton
If we hide our sin like David did, it will fester and only grow worse. Secret sin weakens our relationships with the Lord and others. It siphons away our strength and leads us down a path of destruction. As a believer slowly drifts away from the foundation of Christ, they further compromise their convictions, harden their hearts, and lose their discipline.
However, the good news is that Jesus is there with open arms and a heart of compassion for those who acknowledge their sins, repent of them, and trust in Him. What is impossible in our strength and wisdom is possible with the Lord. We read in Psalm 86:5 that the Lord is “forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” Notice that our responsibility is to call upon our Creator and Sustainer. We do not overcome sin in our own power. Those who trust in God rely upon His grace, goodness, and mercy. We are also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. We forgive because we are forgiven. We love because we are loved. God so loved you that He sent His only begotten Son so that you will not perish but have eternal life.
Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and relents from sending calamity. This is such a beautiful thought: He “is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”
The Father sent His Son so that believers will have eternal life, forgiveness, and hope. Yahweh calls us to confess our transgressions and embrace the completed work of Christ. The Lord invites all who call upon Him into His family as adopted daughters and sons. Embrace your new nature and your new family. Admit your faults, turn from them, and accept the eternal, unfailing love of the Father, Son, and Spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending us our priest, prophet, and king. He is fully man and fully God, our Lord Jesus Christ. We praise You now and forever. May we acknowledge how we have broken your law, repent from our sins, and enjoy your radical love now and in the age to come. We adore You. In the name of the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah we pray, amen.