Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Release from the Burden of Sin
Psalm 32
Pradeep John
Connecticut Mar Thoma Congregation
5. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
 
Psalm 32 is a Maschil of David which literally means “Giving Instruction”. The Psalmist describes the blessings of his forgiveness, succeeding the pains of conviction, and derives from his own experience, instructions and exhortation to others.
Carrying the Burden of Sin: In verses 1 and 2 of the psalm David talks of four evils which God should forgive us and not keep an account of for us to be blessed:
1.       Transgression signifies the passing over a boundary, doing what is prohibited.
2.       Sin signifies the missing of a mark, not doing what was commanded.
3.       Iniquity signifies what is contrary to equity or justice. Anything morally distorted or perverted
4.       Deceit or Guile signifies fraud.
When the psalmist tried to hide his sin from God and not humble himself before God, his body got weak and he was groaning all day because of the guilt within. The hand of God’s wrath was felt heavily upon him. A child of God can sin but not get away from it. From the very beginning of human history man has sinned and tried to hide from God. Adam and Eve sinned and tried to get away by hiding from God. Cain killed his brother and pretends as if he knew nothing about Abel. We are all born with a sinful nature and we all sin knowingly and unknowingly. We try to make excuses to get away from our sins and also rank our sins as lesser sin (Lying, anger etc.) and greater sin (Murder, Adultery etc.). We need to be aware that before God we are all sinners and have fallen short of his Glory (Rom 3:23). We all deserve to die in sin, but by the grace of God we are saved through the blood of Jesus (Rom 6:23).
Release from the Burden of Sin: God has given His Grace and Mercy freely to all humankind but we have to accept it. He has given us the free will to accept or reject His Grace. We all can come under the shelter of God by sincerely repenting of our sin and God is ever ready to forgive us. Repenting is not just confessing but sincere confession of our sins and turning away from it. David did not make any excuse and confessed his sin before Nathan the prophet and God forgave the guilt of his sins (2 Sam 12:13). So let us all humbly come before the throne of Grace and repent of our sins that Christ may wash us by His precious blood and free us from the burden of sin.

PRAYER

Gracious and Merciful Father, grant us Your Holy Spirit to make us conscious of our sins, a pure heart to confess our sins and humbleness to accept Your Grace.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. "(1John1:9)
  

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