Author: Jacinda Seely
Have you ever needed forgiveness? Anne of Green Gables once did. When gossipy neighbor, Mrs. Rachel Lynde, arrived to scrutinize Matthew and Marilla’s new orphan girl she said, “Well, they didn’t pick you for your looks, that’s for sure and certain.” Anne flies into a temper and exclaims that Mrs. Lynde is fat, clumsy, and without imagination. Anne needs forgiveness … (and so does Rachel Lynde).
God is a forgiving God and Psalm 130 reminds us of that. It starts with a more personal testimony of trust in the Lord by someone who knew they were a sinner, and who trusted that the Lord would forgive them when they called. The second part is an invitation for Israel to do the same. We need forgiveness and when we ask for it, God gives it. The psalm starts with, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” Whoever wrote this psalm was calling to God out of the depths with the assurance that God would listen and forgive.
We can do the same. It’s easy to feel like you need to climb up out of the depths a bit before calling to the Lord. What do you do when you have troubles and feel far from the Lord, maybe because of sin? The Lord is always there with forgiveness and unfailing love. Nothing you can do can separate you from the love of God. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Prayer: “Lord, thank you for being the kind of God that we can go to, and for forgiving us. Thank you for giving us the Bible. Help us to put it into practice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
