Exit Us – Day 8
BIBLE READING PLAN
WEEK 2 – EXITING OUR PAST
DAY 3
In our readings this week, we’re focusing on the key idea from Exodus 2:
“Letting go of our past gives us room to receive God’s present plan.” Today, we will read about that from 1 John and Psalm 51.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Reflection: Whatever our past (even being a murderer like Moses), God says it can be purified in Jesus.- What in your past do you need to confess to God? Do that right now.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Second Reading: Psalm 51Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Reflection: In Psalm 51, we read the confession of David, who was a murderer (like Moses) and an adulterer. In his confession, we see that he owns his actions (51:3), he appeals to God’s compassion and love (51:1), and he asks for restoration (51:7-12). It is a good model for confession. And as 1 John 1:9 tell us, Jesus paid the price for our sin so that God is faithful and just. He forgives us when we confess. Whatever our past, it can be purified in Jesus, and just like Moses and David, God can use us powerfully.- What sticks out to you about David’s confession?
- What can you learn from it?
- What in your past do you need to confess to God? Do that right now, and thank Him for His forgiveness in Jesus.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Reflection:Have you ever done something wrong, and had to go and say sorry for what you did? It can be really hard to do sometimes. It can be hard to say the right things, or to face them for what you did, or even to know that the person might still be mad at you, even after you say sorry. When we do something wrong, it’s good for us to apologize. But when we say sorry, it doesn’t always mean that the person will forgive us right away. When we say sorry to God, though, we are ALWAYS forgiven. That’s right! No matter what you do, no matter how wrong you think it was, God always forgives us. Why? Because His Son, Jesus, already paid for our sins! This is such an amazing gift that God has given us, because it means that He loves us no matter what we do! So no matter what you have done, God will always forgive you.
- Is it hard to believe that God really forgives you for everything that you have done? Why or why not?
- Since we know that God will forgive us no matter what, should we just do whatever we want, and just keep saying sorry? Why not?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:19
Devotional:
David was a murderer just like Moses. In Psalm 51, David confesses his sin and he appeals to God’s compassion and love and asks for restoration. It is a good model for confession. Whatever our past, it can be purified in Jesus, and just like Moses and David, God can use us powerfully.
- What in your past do you need to confess to God? Do that right now, and thank him for his forgiveness in Jesus.
Reading: Psalm 51
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:19
Devotional:
David was a murderer just like Moses. In Psalm 51, David confesses his sin and he appeals to God’s compassion and love and asks for restoration. It is a good model for confession.
Whatever our past, it can be purified in Jesus, and just like Moses and David, God can use us powerfully.
- What in your past do you need to confess to God? Do that right now, and thank him for his forgiveness in Jesus.