Start your day with quick daily devotions: February 16, 2021

Scripture reading - Psalm 51: 1-7 Have mercy on me, O God. . . Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. - Psalm 51: 1-2 This petition of the Lord's Prayer has two versions. Matthew quotes Jesus saying, "Forgive our debts" (Matthew 6:12), and Luke quotes Jesus saying, "Forgive our sins" (Luke 11: 4). In any case, "debts" and "sins", and even "transgressions", describe how seriously we fail before God and how much we need his grace. The good news, fortunately, is that Jesus paid our sin debt for us, and when we confess our sins in Jesus name, God forgives us. So we might ask ourselves, "If we have been forgiven, why does Jesus teach us to keep asking God for forgiveness?"

Well, the problem is that we still struggle with sin. In the end we are forgiven. But, like rebellious children, we continue to commit offenses every day, against God and against people. So we must reach out to our Heavenly Father every day, seeking his compassion and nurturing cares so that we can continue to grow to become like his Son, Jesus Christ. When we daily ask God to forgive us our sins, we are trying to grow in honoring and serving him in the world.. Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that, by your grace and mercy, Jesus paid the debt of all our sins. Help us in our daily struggles to live more and more for you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.