Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Forgiveness and Restoration
Psalm 25
Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. (V.6 )
Psalm 25 is evidently a composition of David’s later days, for he mentions the sins of his youth and the painful references to the craft and cruelty of his many foes. This has been known to be the second of the seven Penitential Psalms. The Psalmist’s sorrows remind him of his sin which drives him to God. With poetic passion David cried out to God. Truly, this is a fervent prayer. His heart was bared, his soul was offered up in prayer. God pays heed to such prayer. In worshiping  God we must lift up our souls to Him. Prayer is the ascent of the soul to God.
When we come before God deeply sorry of what we have done, He will forgive us. He will heal us and restore us. When we sin, we can feel so unworthy and unholy to come before God. But, don’t let that stop us coming to receive God’s forgiveness and reconciliation.  In life we all make choices. When things get tough because of wrong choices and mistakes, we want instant forgiveness and restoration. God wants to redeem us and deliver us, but He also wants to make sure we have sincerely learned and turned from the cause of our self-inflicted woes.
Forgiveness does not mean instant restoration of trust. Forgiveness is based on grace. Trust is built on works. Every honest Christian must admit that at times we disobey and disappoint God. The great men and women we meet in Bible all failed God at one time or another. Only Jesus did not sin because in Him there was no sin. Yet He sacrificed himself on Calvary for our sins. He forgave those who condemned him and tortured him. But we people feel completely justified in holding on to unforgiveness. We need to choose to forgive. Then only we can experience God’s peace and love.
This Lenten season is the reminder of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for our restoration and redemption. The plan of God in sending His son was to restore which has been broken and ruined. The Lord’s saving work is a global repair job. Each one of us has come to Him already ruined by sin. But God’s will and His promise is to restore and renew us through His son.
Prayer: Blessed Savior, help us to forgive those who have failed us. Please make us realize that unforgiveness is a heavy load to bear. Help us to put it at the foot of the cross and leave it there; so that we can experience your peace and comfort in our lives.
Thought for the day: “Confession of sin is the soil in which forgiveness flourishes.”

Anna A Panackal, Philadelphia MTC

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