82. Forgiveness,

Then I called on the name of the LORD :
"O LORD, save me!"

The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

Psalm 116:4-5

How far it is beyond my understanding to think my sins are forgotten. To consider all that You have done for me, Your work on the cross; the free gift to many. But not a free gift by any means of being unpaid for, no, it was very costly indeed. For You were pierced for our transgressions, You were crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon You, and by Your wounds we are healed(a). And when the shame of my sin billows up inside me, reminding me of how I treated Your name, than I turn to Your word and am reminded that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus(b).

You love, O God, is more inconceivably beautiful than I will ever know. I am full of guilt, I am deserving of punishment for my sinfulness. But You God, so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. You did not send Your Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him(c) Truly, You do not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities(d).

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?(e)
The glory is Yours, You have shown me undeserved acceptance and love again. It is Your nature, Your unchanging character, You are the God of love, forgiveness, and restoration. May you receive all praise and adoration both now and forever more, Amen.


(a) Isaiah 53:5 (revised past tense verbs)
(b) Romans 8:1
(c) John 3:16-17 (changed pronoun usage)
(d) Psalm 103:10 (pronoun change)
(e) Psalm 116:12