BTR Weekly eNewsletter: The Fragrance of Forgiveness

Issue #704 ~February 14, 2022

Dear Friends,

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Christ is All and in All,

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The Fragrance of Forgiveness

"But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."

Psalm 130:4

Verse 4: "But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."

The disease was sin in verse 3, the cure is "forgiveness" in verse 4. Instead of keeping a record of sins, the Lord provides forgiveness. This means full, sovereign pardon on His part, without limitations.

The story is told of a dinner party at which Lady Churchill was seated across the table from Sir Winston, whose hands - two fingers bent at the knuckles - kept creeping up and down the table. The fingers appeared to be walking toward Lady Churchill. Finally, her dinner partner asked, "Why is Sir Winston looking at you so wistfully, and whatever is he doing with those knuckles on the table?"

"That's simple," she replied. "We had a mild quarrel before we left home, and he is indicating it is his fault and he is on his knees to me in abject apology." (The Romance Factor)

We are sinful and God is holy. Sin can no more exist in the presence of God than darkness can exist in the presence of light. To stand before Him as we are is to invite destruction. If God were to keep a record of our sins, we could not stand in His presence."

C. S. Lewis expressed the truth of God's forgiveness this way: "No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall, of course, be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes in the airing cupboard...It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence."

The word "But" in verse 4 forms the contrast to a Lord who is keeping record of our sins to One who is forgiving. "But with you there is forgiveness."

Love is described in 1 Corinthians 13:5: "[Love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered" (NASB).

Notice the little word "is": "But with you there is forgiveness." This is something that is now available in the present for us. There are no exceptions! There is forgiveness for everyone! It does not say "will be" because the day is coming when forgiveness will be history.

Makes you want to shout, doesn't it!

"Therefore you are feared." That refers to worship and obedience.

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Praises & Prayer Requests

1. Pray: But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. Psalm 130:4 (NIV)

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2. Praise: ...for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 (NASB)

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3. Pray: This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 (NASB)

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4. Praise: For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13,14 (NASB)

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5. Pray: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1 (NIV)

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Join me in singing Fanny Crosby's wonderful hymn "Near the Cross":

Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain

Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.

Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me,

There the Bright and Morning Star Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day With its shadows o'er me.