Garry spoke about penitence in prayer this morning, looking at Psalm 51. Though we are continually striving not to sin, we have to know that when we do sin, God forgives us and cleanses us (1 John 1:9) We live in a fallen world where we are are engaged in an ongoing battle against temptation and need to know that when we fail and do sin, repentance paves the way for us to be restored.
When we are first saved, it is like the floodgates of God’s mercy are opened, rather like water gushing from a dam. Our sensitivity to God is keen and we grow quickly, but at times, progress seems to slow and we may make wrong choices. Sometimes our awareness of what we are doing wrong is not keen (rather like we become used to a smell so that we no longer perceive it after a while) and we need God to make us aware of our sin. False guilt is not specific, but when God highlights sin (as He did through the prophet Nathan with David), He is specific. When He points out areas which need attention and change, we can refuse to listen, rather like the driver who was advised that the only way to cope with the terrible noise his car was making if he could not afford the expensive repair needed was to turn the radio up louder! When God challenges us, we need to respond to Him, being ruthless with ourselves but merciful with others. Penitence leads us to the mercy of God, for God does not make us aware to despair; He makes us aware to repair. Our sins cause a barrier between us and Him (Is 59:2), but He is a God who wants to put things right and who, through Christ’s sacrifice, has done all that is required for us to be made right with Him.
When we are penitent and receive forgiveness, it paves the way to celebration, for we realise that there is no condemnation and so we can celebrate (like the Prodigal Son on his return home.) Some may call this undignified, but Ps 51:8 reminds us that joy and gladness are the natural response to restoration. Penitence paves the way to restoration and celebration.