Sunday, 22 August 2021
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Thank God for his gracious response to our sin!
One of the reasons we mourn, when God becomes the most important person in our lives, is the realization that our sin really hurts God’s heart in a very personal way. It tears us up to realize we have done that to God. When that happens, we must make sure we don’t camp out in the mourning, but let the mourning lead us to repentance.
What happens when we repent? 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” God doesn’t want us to dwell on our sins—they no longer exist. Once we have come back to him for forgiveness and chosen his way again, God doesn’t want us to dwell on the way we messed up for a month, nor even a week, not even a day or a minute!
In the story of the prodigal son, the son says “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.” (Luke 15:21) The son mourns his sin towards God. He isn’t mourning the fact that he’s hungry or destitute. He’s not focusing on himself, but on his father. And what is the father’s response? To embrace him—to celebrate! That’s God’s response to you too.
When we sin, the Holy Spirit is grieved. We mourn and beg for forgiveness. And God reaches down, gives us this beautiful hug, and says, “I love you. Give me the burden of your sin. Don’t worry, I can take it. Now come with me and enjoy the amazing, joyful, fruitful life I have planned for you. Mourn no more, your sin is forgiven, and let's never talk about it again. I love you, son (or daughter).”
Take some time now to confess your sins to God. After you have done so, thank him for removing them so that they no longer exist.
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