Devotion:
Read Psalm 32:1-7.
I found the combination to the lock on our dad’s toolbox one day, and my younger brother and I helped ourselves to his best tools. We each picked up a tape measure and began pulling out the tapes and letting them snap back into their cases. The spring on my little brother’s tape was not very strong, and when he pushed on the end of the tape to help it back, the tape snapped off! Our young lives flashed before our eyes! “Let me have it!” I said, pushed the broken piece back into its case, dropped it into the tool box, closed the lid, and spun the lock. “Dad never uses that tape measure,” I told Neal, “and if he does pull on it, he will think he broke it.” The cunning wisdom of an older brother at work! A few nights later, Neal broke into tears, sobbing loudly. My dad rushed into our bedroom, expecting to see one of us with a bloody nose or black eye. Neal confessed and blurted out, “I broke your tape measure.” Dad told him it was OK, as that tape measure was old and did not work well. Then he shifted his attention to me with a warning to never use that combination again. Neal was relieved, totally at peace and smiling broadly.
Our sins almost always cause us to feel separation from God. The Psalmist describes the agony we endure when we keep silent, worrying if God will still love us. And when we do confess, we are filled with joy over our forgiveness.
Personal Worship Option:
As you pray today, spend a little more time than usual in confession. Name the mistakes you have made and ask God to forgive you. Be specific, knowing that God is already aware of your sin. Don’t rush through this. Accept the forgiveness God gives you and know that you are loved. It is called grace!
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