Well, if you are like me, I was deeply encouraged by last week’s lesson from Anthony. The emotional anguish king David felt due to his sin was palpable, He writes, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3). Verses that grab my attention concerning David’s guilt are Psalm 32:2, “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long” and Psalm 38:4, “For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” I understand these emotions from David as he carries the tremendous burden of guilt. Without the merciful hand of the one true God, this burden he would carry for the rest of his life. If there would be any sense of healing, he needed God to work within him. So, he beckons God to “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). There is only one Great Physician and He is always ready to renew the broken heart. Thank you for reminding us.
Today, we have the joy of hearing a message from Angel Velez. His text will be 1st Peter 5:6-11. I took the opportunity to read it again for the first time, and I am anticipating what he has prepared for us. In advance, thank you for your desire and willingness to share to word of God with us all.
So, like last week, I needed to draft an article for the bulletin without detracting from the lesson which Angel prepared, I thought I would share with you a text I read this past week that caused me to pause and ask myself a question. An especially important question! Who am I?! As John writes to early Christians, he seeks to answer this question. Let us look at 1st John 2:12-14 again for the first time.
12 I write to you, little children, because YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.
13 I write to you, fathers, BECAUSE YOU HAVE KNOWN HIM who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE.
What enabled David to continue and be the best servant of God possible after his conduct with Bathsheba? Remember his plea from Psalm 51:17, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” So, who am I? John says, “Forgiven!” The burden of our past need not direct our steps today. Not only that, but we can also claim victory over the evil one. John would speak further of this confidence saying, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1st John 4:4). All this is possible because “have known him who is from the beginning.” The Great Physician is where hope and confidence is found! It is where healing, true inner healing is received. So, I leave you with the question John appears to answer, and David sought to find a new, who are you?
Biddeford Church of Christ 