Helen Kinsey: February 28

Week 2 - Psalm 51

Saturday, February 28, 2015

A Reflection on Forgiveness from Helen Kinsey

This psalm of King David had deep meaning for him and has meaning for us as well.  As David says, we are born sinners.  We may be well aware of the sins we commit, such as slandering a neighbor, over-charging for work done, or something as egregious as abusing a husband or wife.  Or, maybe we are not as aware of some sins, such as neglecting a person who is homeless.  David’s deep plea reminds us that we first need to be aware of our sin.

David truly repented of his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband and confessed his sins to God.  The prophet Nathan confronted him with his sin and then assured him that God had forgiven him.  This is a gift that is hard to fathom.  How can we be set free just by sincerely confessing?

As often as we pray the Lord’s prayer, we say, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.”  What a powerful cycle!  As God forgives us, forgiveness flows from us to others. That is our response.  Then we can be the ones who understand forgiveness and how it releases our guilt so that we can praise God for his deep and abiding love for us.

And then we are free to go a step further.  Instead of ignoring an indiscretion, we will be eager to help our neighbor with a listening ear, a joyful heart, and a willing spirit.

Can we really understand how awesome God’s love for us is?  Yes, we can, a little more each day as we pray in David’s words:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen