It’s hard to say, “I’m sorry!” It’s hard to say, “Please forgive me.” It’s hard to think that I need to do this, because we rationalize and think, “I’m an O.K. person; I have my faults, but when I rationalize, I’m no worse than the next guy, and actually, I’m “better” than most. I try to be a good person; I think about others; I usually do what’s right; etc.”
That attitude can be applied to our families, our churches, our communities, our nation.
Here’s what God says, and I urge us to make it personal, relational, national: “Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Key word: humble. That’s what it takes! The New Testament says not one of us is “good.” The good we “do” or are is as filthy rags. That about says it.
When compared to a righteous God, we are truly fallen creatures, depraved, filthy, and of no account, no matter how we attempt in our feeble ways to rationalize, to compensate, to pat ourselves on the back, or to compare ourselves to others who seem to be more depraved than we are.
The difference is, we as Christians know One who is perfect, without sin, who was sent of God to redeem us. What an unbelievable, yet necessary gift God has given.
So today, and daily, even minute by minute, it behooves me to call on the Name of Jesus to cleanse me of my unrighteousness through Christ’s power, not through any purposeful activity on my part, so that I can experience the forgiveness which only Jesus can provide. This I know; this I say; this I do.
Result: Thank you Lord Jesus for loving me enough to die for my sinfulness in thought, word, deed, attitude, and being. I am inadequate to deal with the hypocrisy, the selfishness, the deeds of omission and commission, and my self-rigteousness. Humble me and help me to wholly rely on Your rich grace and eternal promises for my salvation, for my redemption, for my rescue, for my sanctification and for my ability to follow you wholeheartedly, to be used as Your vessel in this world and forever. Amen.
Indeed, repentance opens the floodgates of God’s grace and mercy.
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