Covered. No Need to Hide

Being the first of the month, I went to Psalm 1 for devotional reading today. You might be familiar with the plan--Day 1, read Psalm 1, add 30 and read Psalm 31, add 30 and read Psalm 61, etc.. But my eye caught a note at the bottom of the page that referred to Psalm 32 that interested me, so I turned there.

It begins,
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

That struck a chord in my heart. The guilt and shame of sin causes us to want to hide. From God. From others. Trying to hide is no answer. We might be able to hide from others for awhile, but soon we find our relationships fading as we back away into the darkness.

We cannot hide from God. He knows our coming and our going. And deep inside, we know He knows. And He knows the sorrow we bear from our guilt and shame. He is after us, in pursuit.

He knows we need help. He knows our sin is in need of a covering. To cover the guilt, so we will no longer be ashamed. So we will no longer want to hide. From others. From Him.

He wants relationship with us. He wants us to have relationship with others. But what about the guilt that separates us? The shame that overshadows us?

God has provided the covering. He wants us to receive the covering. That covering is His Son, Jesus Christ. He provides forgiveness for our guilt. He removes the shadow of shame that comes with it.

For those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, God sees Him as the covering for our sin and our guilt.

We need not hide. Our sin is covered. Our transgression is forgiven. And how blessed we are!

I needed to be reminded of that this morning. Maybe you, too, dear one?

Image ~ Marguerite, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1903

pubic domain, via WikiArt

What Part Does Forgiveness Play?

We're hosting a mid-week small group in our home, and this week the topic was on forgiveness. Talk turned to the MeToo movement and what part forgiveness plays. It seems that many are more bent on destruction than forgiveness. It appears that some use the movement as a political, positional maneuver, putting their own agenda ahead of any concern that might be possible for the person whom they condemn.

While there has certainly been some good coming from the movement, there are many shards that rip and ruin along the way. One of those slaughterous shards is that it assumes guilt until proven innocent. The burden of proof is placed on the accused, with the accuser simply believed because the words flow off the tongue or the ink spills from the pen. A striking characteristic of the movement is that some are reaching so far back that there is little memory of those days to prove innocence. Neither can guilt be proven in some cases, but character has been attacked and reputations ruined. For many, the goal is accomplished and much of it due to a vengeful spirit.

So, back to our group's question--what part does forgiveness play?  The prerequisite question: Is the accuser willing to forgive? Reconciliation is the goal of forgiveness. Is this the goal of the accuser?  Does the accuser seek reconciliation or ruination? Or is it all couched in 'justice'? And what about when we're on the side of the justice scale that tips toward our own guilt in a different area? Are we just as willing for justice then? Or is justice demanded only for the sins against us, not by us?

What is the goal of the accuser?

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? (James 3:11)

Painting ~ Chatting, Eugen von Blaas, 1905

public domain via Wikimedia

Sunday Ponderings ~ Causing the Consequences

Pondering this afternoon on an aspect of repentance that I had not considered before. Our pastor's sermon this morning was based in Nehemiah 9:32-38--the Israelites' confession in the renewal of their covenant with God after they had rebuilt the Jerusalem wall. The people had had a  history of repeated rebellion and repentance in following God and His ways. They are at a point once again of confessing their wrong.

Pastor made three points in regard to their confession. First, they recognized that what had been happening to them over the years was their own fault. That is a vital part of confession--that we accept the blame for whatever mess we find ourselves in, that we not blame shift or divert responsibility away from ourselves.

The third point that our pastor made was that repentance is a turning away from our wrongful, sinful ways, and that we turn toward God's righteous ways. It's the 'put off, put on' principle in biblical counseling. We agree with God that our way was wrong and that His way is right. And we turn and go His way. Yes, God accepts us 'as we are,' but He expects us to work in harmony with the Holy Spirit within us to change into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. So we move in that direction.

I was knowledgeable about the first and third points. The second point was a new thought to me, however. Pastor discussed the Israelites' affirmation of the consequences of their actions.

Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.  And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress (v. 36-37).

I hadn't actually considered the affirmation of consequences as part of repentance and forgiveness. When I've asked forgiveness from someone, I've typically stated my wrongdoing and asked forgiveness from the person I've sinned against; thus, being brought back into fellowship of spirit with them and with God. But I've not considered the aspect of actually verbalizing  the consequences of my offense. But how necessary that is! To realize and give voice to the harm I've caused. It's more than just an 'oops, sorry about that.' It's the evidence of a contrite heart. A heart after God's heart.

Bottom line for me:  Own up to the harm I've caused. It's the way upward and onward. 

The Readers, 1889 Jacques Emile Blanche 1841-1942

On Forgiveness

I'm continuing to read The Incomparable Christ by J. Oswald Sanders and following along as Nancy Leigh DeMoss discusses the chapter topics at Revive Our Hearts. It's a 40-day study as we prepare for the resurrection of Christ, and a few days beyond.

Sharing a brief statement from the book today about this verse.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." ~ Luke 23:34

“It may be objected that not all who participated in the crucifixion were forgiven. The answer is that in every act of forgiveness, two persons are involved. Forgiveness must be accepted as well as bestowed. The prayer of Christ made forgiveness available to every sinful man, but not all availed themselves of it.”

~J. Oswald Sanders, The Incomparable Christ

I do hope that  you have availed yourself of the forgiveness offered you. You can learn a lot more about Christ and why He died and was resurrected, proving His deity, at ReviveOurHeartscom.

On Forgiveness ~ A Quiet Time Thought

Thinking some in preparation for our next Bible study in the Seeking Him study guide. The upcoming topic is on "Forgiveness: Setting Your Captives Free." Just as importantly, that forgiveness sets ourselves free as well.

The topic takes me back almost 20 years ago when I was ambushed and slandered by a friend. If you've had a friend turn on you and work to get others to turn on you as well, then you know the hurt and confusion it causes. I felt a great weight in my spirit and on my heart, wanting to find out what went wrong and to reconcile with her. She had no desire to discuss whatever brought on her state of mind and actions, but I knew that I had to get some release in my own heart and mind.That's when I went to the Scriptures and dug deeply for an understanding of forgiveness.

I learned that there are basically two dimensions to forgiveness--a relational aspect and a judicial aspect. I could not reach my friend relationally because she wouldn't talk to me, so we could not re-establish fellowship with one another as Matthew 18 instructs believers. I had to accept that. The other aspect was judicial, that I needed to release her and not to seek retribution for the hurt and damage she had caused. I left whatever consequences might come her way up to God and entrusted myself to Him. There was nothing more I could do or was expected to do.

That isn't to say that I have no feelings about the matter when I recall my friend. It saddens me to remember the discord the situation caused in our group and the loss of a friendship. God doesn't tell us to forget, but to forgive as He forgave us. We receive His forgiveness; in turn, we are to extend forgiveness.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.   ~ Ephesians 4:32

Unforgiveness can cause physical as well as emotional damage. In setting others free, we set ourselves free to a more abundant life, a life not burdened down with bitterness and resentment. 

Painting ~Laesende Kvinde Oil on panel
Carl Holsoe 1863-1935
Wiki Commons public domain

Forgiveness: Better Instead of Bitter

 Our pastor spoke on forgiveness yesterday, and it reminded me of a book I'd read many years ago--Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles by Wendell E. Miller. Our pastor shared an experience that drove him to the Scriptures several years ago, searching out what God intends in forgiveness. I was reminded of my own experience several years ago that had the same effect on me. I read several books on the subject as well, and the one by Miller unlocked the "puzzle" of forgiveness for me in a way that freed me from a great burden.

The key point for me was understanding the difference between judicial forgiveness and fellowship forgiveness. Judicially, we release someone from the penalty of his sin. We release that to God for whatever He may do with it. Fellowship forgiveness requires repentance from the person so our fellowship can be restored. The offender may never ask forgiveness, and fellowship may never be restored. That's not to say that we don't speak to one another, but that his offense is still between us, lacking repentance, confession, and fellowship forgiveness. However, the burden of our heart can be lifted because of judicial forgiveness, and as our pastor pointed out, we get better instead of bitter.

As Wendell Miller says, the difference between these two kinds of forgiveness can be considered as the difference between God's "courtroom" and His "living room."