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 32:5
In Psalm 32 David tells how he had been wrestling with enemy number 1 -- his guilt -- and was taking a beating. He had tried the hiding game, but it just didn't work. He might be able to hide his sins from others, but how could he possibly hide them from God? There was only one way out: "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," David says. Then God forgave the guilt of his sin.
This is the only solution to our own guilt problem. Instinctively we try to hide guilt, to bury it or wish it away, dance it away, drink it away, drug it away. Nothing works; the guilt still preys on the heart and brings regrets, worries, and fears.
David's solution is still the only one: honest, flat-out confession. No hiding, covering up, or shifting the blame but simply, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." That is step 1. Even more important is step 2: to believe with David, "You forgave the guilt of my sin." We must know God not only as a God of stern justice but also as a God of love -- a forgiving God who welcomes us with the Good News of His grace in Christ, our sin-bearer. Trusting that Christ has made amends for us, we can rest assured that our guilt is really gone.
PRAYER: In the joy of Your salvation, Lord, let my soul find peace; for Jesus' sake. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 10-12 Luke 19:1-27
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