Forgiveness

Forgiveness

If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you may become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far or near. But in that land of exile, they may turn to you again in repentance and pray, “We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.” Then if they turn to you with their whole heart and soul and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors, toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name, then hear their prayers from heaven where you live. Uphold their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Make their captors merciful to them, for they are your people—your special possession—whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.

1 Kings 8:46-51

Building a temple for the glory of God was a huge task for a young king. At its dedication, Solomon prayed for the people’s hearts, which were more important than the new temple.

Solomon didn’t say “if” in regard to sin, because he knew it was a matter of “when.” His wise words gave the people—and believers today—a pattern for the cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness.

1. We will sin.
2. When we sin, if we have a change of heart and repent and plead to God, and if we turn back to God with all our heart and soul and pray to God, then:
3. God will hear our prayer, forgive the offenses we have committed against him, and show us mercy.

We must follow God’s pattern for repentance and forgiveness. How gracious that God does not leave us to carry our own burden of sin—he carried it to the cross. And when we follow the pattern he gave us for repentance, we become examples of his mercy in front of our children.

Merciful God,

Thank you that we do not have to carry our sin, but that you show us mercy when we turn to you with all our heart and soul. Amen.