It often seems it takes a crisis before we are willing to consider the notion that our desires do not match God’s desires. As we consider the times we have failed to love God and one another, we must realize that, on our own we cannot redeem that which was lost. Holy Scripture teaches us that the wages of our sin is death. Taking a serious look at our sin means acknowledging the reality of death. That is what the season of Lent is all about.

We have to acknowledge the great divide between God and humanity. Because of our sin, therefore, crying out to God for mercy is the same as asking God to raise the dead. And so, we make our journey to the cross of Christ where sin is put to death forever.

Psalm 51 is David’s cry for mercy. His greatest sins, the taking of Uriah’s wife Bathsheba into his bed, his plot cover up her pregnancy and his scheme to have Uriah killed on the battlefield lest his sin become known…all of these come to bear as the prophet Nathan exposes David’s sin to the light of God’s truth and judgment. David writes: “Have mercy on me. Wash me through and through. Indeed, I have been wicked. Purge me from my sin.” This is the cry of a sinful man, a king who has fallen from grace, a man who has grieved the heart of God. It’s the cry of every sinner. Looking closely at our sin and considering our disobedience, we soon find ourselves in the same predicament as David. Facing a crisis, we realize our need for God’s redeeming grace. Thankfully, the promise of God is sure. Those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.