This morning as I read Psalm 51, I made me think of Hebrews 11:6, and how “…without faith it is impossible to please [God], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” As David cried out for God to wash him thoroughly from his iniquity, and cleanse him from his sin, he had to truly believe that God would do so. He says, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” He could not have been pleasing to God if he came to Him with this plea, and then did not trust that God not only could do it, but that God would do it for him.
So many times I feel so overcome by my sin that though I would not say it is too much for God to forgive, I don’t seem to believe in my heart that He will truly and thoroughly cleanse me. This is not pleasing to God. I must believe that He rewards those who come to Him, those who seek Him, and those who believe in Him. We read in John 5 how Jesus promised to give life to those who came to Him, but told them that they would not receive life because they were not willing to come to Him that they may have life, nor did they believe Him. In John 6, we read how Jesus proclaimed, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” And a most precious promise comes almost immediately following this, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
Do I believe this? Do I truly believe that the Father, and His Son, will welcome me with open arms as the prodigal son’s father did? Or do I worry that He’ll cast me out and say, “You said you’d do better, and you failed again! I’m tired of it! If you were really sorry, you’d prove it by fixing it!” Do I instead believe that He is as mankind often is – unwilling to forgive, and quick to give up on others?
I know that He has promised, and He is faithful to His promises. I have no other options but to come to Him, believe Him, and follow, for He has the words of eternal life! May I be as David, and choose to be fruitful for the LORD, and give returns on His investment, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart, These, O God, You will not despise.”
As I repent with godly sorrow, I want to bear fruit through teaching others and praising Him!