Own It

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 3

Scripture Focus: I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God. (Jeremiah 3.12-13)

Devotional Thought: Yesterday, I mentioned how proud I was of my daughters and their husbands when they had to "contend" with their children on our family vacation.  In the midst of the contention, however, I also noticed another quality: mercy.  When my grandchildren acknowledged their mistakes and "owned" their behavior, mommy and daddy were ready to forgive and move on.  That's mercy, and I'm glad that my kids get it.

God has children to "raise", too.  And though he contends with us, he also reassures us: "I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful... I will not be angry forever."  There is only one thing he asks: acknowledge our guilt.

But, we try to cover up:

·       Deflect the blame.  Ever since the Garden of Eden, humankind has been trying to blame somebody else for their poor decisions and actions.  "The wife you gave me..."  "The serpent you created..."  So little has changed.  We even blame God for "not stopping me" or "making me this way."

·       Diminish the impact.  "Sure, I did it," we say, "but it really isn't so bad.  There are many things worse that could have happened."

·       Deny the facts.  It seems that this option is being used more and more in public life - by politicians, by the press, and by partisans.  I've been concerned about the rewriting of American history recently.  But, even worse is the blatant rewriting of what are objective and verifiable facts.

What we need to do is...

·       Declare that we own our rebellion.  God told the Israelites, if you acknowledge your guilt, I will forgive you.  My grandkids know that with their parents.  We ought to be able to learn it with our heavenly Father, too.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for your mercy.  Though I do not wish to presume upon it, I am grateful that I can live within it.  Help me, when I fail, to acknowledge my failures and receive your mercy.  Through Jesus my Savior, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 106.6-12

6 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.

7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.

10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.

12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.