Day 45 with David: The Lord sees the penitent soul through the eyes of mercy.

“Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.”

‭‭“For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”

Psalms‬ ‭25:6-7‬, 11 ‭NKJV‬‬

In my high school yearbook there is one autograph (do they still write in yearbooks?) that stands out to me. It is written by a young man who became a good friend in the last 3 years of high school (our high school was grades 8 through 12). In this autograph he says that he was very glad that he had come to know that, “first impressions don’t count.” Then he went on to say some very complementary things. But what was he referencing when he said, “first impressions don’t count?” Well, allow me to explain: his first experience with me came when we were on opposing teams in a sort of “debate.” The actual object of the team-to-team combat was to see if you could trip up the other team regarding the details of the subject we had been studying (in this case it was Greek Mythology…I know). Well, I could be very competitive in such situations and could also come across as being very aggressive (because I was being very aggressive). I never thought of how I was being perceived; I was just thinking about the goal: winning. Thankfully—as he came to better know me—he saw a more complete picture of me and began to see me in a different way.

Aren’t we grateful for do-overs? Sadly, there are some things concerning which there can be no do-over (in the natural). Mistakes have been made, the results of which, cannot be reversed; relationships damaged, setting a new course that cannot be corrected. I’m sure you know how it feels to wish you could have a do-over when a do-over is not available.

The fact is, as fallen human beings, we are born needing a do-over. We are born carrying the load of our own Sin: the Sin of mankind in rebelling against God.

“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:8-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Until Jesus Christ, there was no permanent remedy, no permanent do-over for our terrible state of being (condemned under Sin). But, what we could not do for ourselves, God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Now—for those who are in Christ—we are seen through the work of the Cross, seen through His own love and mercy. Therefore, we are afforded a standing do-over.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We repent and ask the Lord to forgive us because of Jesus Christ: the ultimate work of grace and mercy.

In our portion from Psalms today we see David pleading for forgiveness. In doing so, he makes a powerful statement: “According to your mercy remember me.” David realized that approaching the Lord with humility would divert His anger; He looks on the penitent soul with mercy, because of His own goodness.

Remember, people with whom you associate may never afford you a do-over. Indeed, life itself, may dictate your mistakes in granite. But God—looking through Jesus Christ—will see you through eyes of mercy, and deal with you according to His goodness.

For today let us know and understand what David knew:

The Lord sees the penitent soul through the eyes of mercy.

#100dayswithdavid