Psalm 103:11–12: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, / So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; / As far as the east is from the west, / So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

April 18th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

For the believer, God’s twin gifts of mercy and forgiveness should make us eternally grateful, and compel us to extend mercy and forgiveness to others. Sometimes, when the pain of being betrayed by someone we especially love crushes us, it seems impossible to forgive and forget. It is then that our gratitude and awareness of all that God has forgiven us for is most sorely tested.

There’s an old Spanish story of an estranged father and son. When the son ran away, the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort, he put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you, your father.” On Saturday, 800 Pacos showed up looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. God is the Father who eagerly waits for any estranged son or daughter to show up seeking forgiveness. When we do, His mercy and forgiveness flows over us, removing our transgressions, iniquities, and sins. After receiving such forgiveness, we are better able to then turn and extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

“LORD, we repent and confess our sins again to You, depending solely on Your mercy and forgiveness this day.”