Wednesday February 21, 2007

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is a day of repentance and confession marking the beginning of Lent, the 40 days during which we prepare ourselves for the great celebration of Easter.

During the Lenten season, we will be sending out e-devotions based on the lectionary readings for Lent. We pray that they will be a blessing to you during this holy season.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:1-17

This is one of the most beautiful and comforting as well as confronting Psalms in the Bible. We are drawn to it because of what it tells us about God, that God is merciful, compassionate, righteous, forgiving, and a God of unfailing love.

What is more difficult to accept is what this Psalm says about us as human beings. It reminds us that we are sinful creatures, and have been from the beginning. The psalmist uses words like “in need of mercy, transgressions, iniquity, and evil.” Our reaction tends to be, “Who me? I’ve had a few bad moments, but sinful from the beginning? Isn’t that a little harsh?”

But ultimately and unarguably there is a gulf between us and God. God is holy. We are not. Jesus has come to bridge this gap but until we acknowledge the extent of the gap by acknowledging our own sinfulness, we refuse to recognize the extent of his sacrifice and the miracle of God’s unfailing love for us.

The season of Lent is a time to humble ourselves, to be reminded of our need for the grace of Jesus to reconcile us with God and to seek to become one with Christ as a new creation.

Prayer: O God, during these 40 days of Lent, grant me a humble and willing spirit so that I might know the extent of my need for you and seek to be continually in your presence. Amen.

Psalm 51: 1-17

Have 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 that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost 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,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
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 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.