I Samuel 12:20
‘Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.”‘
This is encouraging. We will always make mistakes. However, we aren’t to dwell on them. We are to ask for forgiveness and move on. I John 1:9 says, “If we should confess our sins, He is faithful and just, that He may forgive us our sins and might cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jesus makes this point with Peter when He washes his feet. ‘Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean…”‘, (John 13:10). As we walk with Him, our feet get dirty. This is figurative. It’s speaking of the worldly influence that we may succumb to. It could also be our sinful nature gaining the upper hand. We are already redeemed. We just need to be cleaned up.
We could wallow in our failure. However, that’s not helpful. This is a form of selfishness. We like it to be all about ourselves, even when we sin. This is where some church’s have adopted penance. It’s like paying for our sin by our sorrow. This isn’t true or helpful. Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled…” (John 14:1). We aren’t aided by focusing on our faults and mistakes. Go to the Lord, confess and move on.
What we can do is be grateful for His unending forgiveness and how we are made white as snow. Jesus told of the ten lepers that were healed. Yet only one returned to give thanks. There’s a 90% chance we won’t be thankful. We should turn that around or at least gain some ground.
It’s human nature to focus on problems. Once we are done with one, we tend to focus on the next issue in line. We need to reflect back and give thanks.
It reminds me of a baby learning to walk. That one begins to walk the furniture. Later, there is independence, but it’s like a drunken man. In time, there’s fluency. As we walk with the Lord, we learn to quickly confess, give thanks for His mercy and grace and move on. We hardly break a stride.
Lord, thank You for Your great mercy. It’s new every morning. Thank You, God for Your great news.