Psalm 51:10–12

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

 It’s obvious from reading David’s words that he felt guilty about something. Taking a peek into the historical context we discover that he indeed WAS guilty, REALLY guilty. David had abused his authority as King by taking the wife of one of his soldiers into his own bed. Then, after discovering that she was pregnant, he tried to hide his sin by making it look like the soldier had fathered the child when he was home on leave. But his clever coverup didn’t work. So he had the man, a loyal and effective soldier in his army, placed on the front lines and orders were given to draw back from him so he would be killed.

When the deed was done, David took the woman to be his wife. His 8th wife (at least).

Can you say “Guilty?”

What do YOU do when you are guilty?

Do you try to cover it up like David did? Do you try to pin the blame on someone else? Or do you try to make it right by manipulating things to make it look like what you did is not all that bad?

We are all guilty because we all sin. And what we DO about our guilt is what matters most.

Have you taken your guilt, the whole life-load of it to Jesus, to receive His forgiveness? He was executed in your place, taking your death penalty so you don’t have to. The gift of His perfect life in exchange for yours is the only thing that could ever wipe away your sin and guilt.

And He did it for you because He loves you.

Turn your heart to Him in gratitude and place your faith in what He did on the cross. You’ll be forgiven… once and for all.

But then what… what do you do when you continue to sin?

You do what David did… you take it to God and ask Him for cleansing and restoration – again. Jesus has an unlimited supply of forgiveness for those who humbly confess and renounce their sin.

Part of seeking God is dealing with what stands between us and Him. Though Jesus has taken our sin upon Himself, we offend God when we continue to sin.. so there’s relational damage that needs to be dealt with… consistently and rightly.

Take a cue from David and confess your sin and helplessness during this time of seeking. God will meet you there.

Join us for worship today as we continue our Seek First Project with a sermon all about God’s immense and lavish forgiveness for the guiltiest of sinners (us).

-Pastor Carey