Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Psalms 25:18
25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
18 ( 2 Samuel 16:12). A Strong Man in a Storm—
David was never more worthy of admiration than in his hour of adversity. Never was this cedar of God truly greater than when wrestling with the storm and tempest. He was a man of the keenest temperament, which might have been raised to the strongest feelings of resentment. He was cut to the quick with the imputation of unmerited wrong. Reproach, he tells us, had broken his heart. And it would not have been surprising if, stung to madness, he had given vent to his feelings of uncontrollable irritation, to bursts of vehement rage, and expressions of revenge. But there was nothing of this which would naturally be expected of a man with his stamp of character. With spirits broken and in tearful emotion, but without one expression of repining, he turns his back upon the scenes of his glory and also of his crime, and pursues his flight for his life (Letter 6, 1880). { 3BC 1146.2 }.
God does not turn away a contrite heart. If we come to God in true repentance, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God is love, and He welcomes His children to return unto Him, and He will redeem you. This is the price that Jesus paid for us all on the cross at Calvary. David turned to God with his spirit broken and in tearful emotion, and God delivered him. David’s faith endured till the end. This must be our experience. Forsake your sins and trust in God’s promise that He will redeem you.
Dear Lord,
We thank You for all Your love and Your mercy. We come to You as sinners and pray that You may wash us clean in the blood of Christ. We are sorry for hurting You, and repent of our sins. In Your compassion and mercy, and by Your grace, we ask and pray that You forgive us of our sins, the known and the unknown. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, Dear Lord. Create a clean heart in us and renew a right spirit within us. Take away the stony heart from our flesh. You are the potter and we are the clay. Shape us and mold us to be the Christians we ought to be. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers and it’s in the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
