Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 

O LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If you were to keep watch over sins, O LORD, who could stand?

Yet with you is forgiveness, in order that you may be feared.

I wait for you, O LORD; my soul waits; in your word is my hope. (Psalm 130:1-5)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the risen Lord and Savior. Amen.

God grants us forgiveness, but oftentimes, unlike the Psalmist, we take it for granted. Forgiveness is undeserved. There is nothing we can do to negate the effects of sin. The rift caused in the Garden of Eden was so great that no mortal can repair it. Yet, God chose to send His Son for that very purpose. Jesus repairs that rift. Jesus forgives.

We all tend to agree that forgiveness is important, but what exactly is it? What is forgiveness? The definition of the Hebrew is to pardon or to spare.  Forgiveness is being pardoned or spared from the full retribution deserved for the transgression. We have gone against God and as Luther put it, “deserve only death.” Redemption indicates being delivered from something or someone. Forgiveness delivers us from the ultimate deserved punishment – death.

Forgiveness gives new life. It delivers us from our old lives and gives us new life in Christ. It is greater than just a fresh start. It is empowering and freeing in a way that is almost unimaginable. Christ frees us from sin and death by blessing us with forgiveness. His forgiveness opens our eyes, ears and hearts to not only Him, but the world around us.

Knowing His immeasurable love and forgiveness opens us to love our neighbor. The forgiveness we receive from God translates into better relationships with God and those who live among us. Forgiveness opens our eyes to the graciousness of God and the extent of our need for forgiveness. Being forgiven aids us to “sin no more” (as Jesus commanded) by shedding light on those things in our lives that need forgiving. Forgiveness guides our daily interactions with God and one another.

In short, we can pray the words of the Psalmist confident that what God has given us in Christ is exactly what the Psalmist is awaiting. The grace and peace of God which surpass all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the risen Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Carla

My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning, more than those who keep watch for the morning.

O Israel, wait for the LORD, for with the LORD there is steadfast love; with the LORD there is plenteous redemption.

For the LORD shall redeem Israel from all their sins.  (Psalm 130:6-8)