Isaiah 59-61
2 Thessalonians 3
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
Have we sinned? Some of us may say we have never murdered anyone or committed adultery, but how many of us have gossiped, told a white lie or coveted something that belonged to someone? We may think that it is not on the same level as murder or adultery, but the real question is, were they any less committed in God’s eyes? Were they any less an indication or reflection of the twistedness and the crookedness within? Do they leave us any less defiled and unfit for worship? It is important for us to truly deal with the depth of the defilement of our sin.
From Psalm 51, we can observe the journey that David took after the prophet Nathan confronted him of his sin. David began by confessing his sin before God, acknowledging that there was nothing good in him and asking God not only to cleanse him but also to create a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit in him. What David went through was not only for his benefit, but for others. He wrote, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, so that
sinners will turn back to You” (Psalm 51:13). David wanted to take what he went through to get back with God and help other sinners do the same. David was not just confident of the restoration to ministry but he was confident of the restoration to fruitful ministry. Believe it or not, about 3,000 years after David wrote Psalm 51, he is still teaching people how to get back to God!
David’s lesson on sin, repentance, forgiveness and restoration is important for us. Some of us, when we deal with something that is not right in our lives, we quickly gloss over it and try to substitute or silence the voice of conscience with more ministry. We rationalize, “I’ll go to church more often. I’ll read the Bible every day. I’ll put a little bit more money in the offering box. I’ll go to a few more prayer meetings”—this is compensation and not the way that we are to deal with sin. David understood this and categorically rejected it when He wrote, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).
Religious ritual, even God-given religious ritual is no substitute for genuine confession the way God describes it. The only route to a pure heart, a steadfast and willing spirit and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is a broken spirit.
Dear God, the only sacrifice I can offer You is my broken and contrite heart, being honest and confessing my sins before You. May You be pleased with this sincere offering of myself. Thank You, Lord.
2 Thessalonians 3
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
Have we sinned? Some of us may say we have never murdered anyone or committed adultery, but how many of us have gossiped, told a white lie or coveted something that belonged to someone? We may think that it is not on the same level as murder or adultery, but the real question is, were they any less committed in God’s eyes? Were they any less an indication or reflection of the twistedness and the crookedness within? Do they leave us any less defiled and unfit for worship? It is important for us to truly deal with the depth of the defilement of our sin.
From Psalm 51, we can observe the journey that David took after the prophet Nathan confronted him of his sin. David began by confessing his sin before God, acknowledging that there was nothing good in him and asking God not only to cleanse him but also to create a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit in him. What David went through was not only for his benefit, but for others. He wrote, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, so that
sinners will turn back to You” (Psalm 51:13). David wanted to take what he went through to get back with God and help other sinners do the same. David was not just confident of the restoration to ministry but he was confident of the restoration to fruitful ministry. Believe it or not, about 3,000 years after David wrote Psalm 51, he is still teaching people how to get back to God!
David’s lesson on sin, repentance, forgiveness and restoration is important for us. Some of us, when we deal with something that is not right in our lives, we quickly gloss over it and try to substitute or silence the voice of conscience with more ministry. We rationalize, “I’ll go to church more often. I’ll read the Bible every day. I’ll put a little bit more money in the offering box. I’ll go to a few more prayer meetings”—this is compensation and not the way that we are to deal with sin. David understood this and categorically rejected it when He wrote, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).
Religious ritual, even God-given religious ritual is no substitute for genuine confession the way God describes it. The only route to a pure heart, a steadfast and willing spirit and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is a broken spirit.
Dear God, the only sacrifice I can offer You is my broken and contrite heart, being honest and confessing my sins before You. May You be pleased with this sincere offering of myself. Thank You, Lord.
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