Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Forgiveness of Sin
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Vs. 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan said to David, “Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.
 The context of this passage is God sending Nathan, the prophet, to King David to make David confront his sin committed with Bathsheba. We are all sinners before God. God is ready to cleanse us of our trespasses if we truly repent of our sins “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
 Confronting our sin : King David’s sin displeased God but David wouldn't listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit or to his conscience. When we hear or sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit we must respond to it immediately, because it might not always be there. So God sent Nathan to David who with wisdom and courage delivers the message using a parable. Nathan applied the parable with alarming simplicity. Nathan had to shock David into seeing his sin for what it was. Each one of us has to realize our own sins and to confront it and then confess to God. Repentance of sin begins with a consciousness within us of our sins and the need for forgiveness. Only then can we confess our sins to God with a repenting heart.  We should ask God as the Psalmist says “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”(Psalm 139:23).
Repenting of our sin : To hide his sin with Bathsheba, King David committed the more heinous sin of murder. This is the grip of sin; it leads us to become more corrupt in our thoughts and actions. God, through Nathan, reminds David of his sins and how David despised the commandment of the Lord. David, on confronting his guilt, makes penitent confession of his sin. King David does not make any excuse or extenuate his sin but take responsibility for his sins. He made a true confession and humbled himself before the Lord and his sins were forgiven but the consequences of his sins were dreadful. “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve “(Jer 17:10). If we truly confess our sins and repent of our evil ways God is ever ready to forgive but we have to humble ourselves like King David before the Throne of Grace to accept his forgiveness. However we do need to remember that sin has its consequences.
PRAYER
Gracious and loving Father, search our hearts and bring our sins to light. Grant us a willing spirit to humble ourselves and to receive Your forgiveness. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"A personal salvation requires a personal conviction of sin "- Maclaren

Pradeep John, Bangalore 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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