daily spiritual reflection - apr. 4

BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY: 

But with you there is forgiveness,

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

and in his word I put my hope...

   Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption.

He himself with redeem Israel 

from all their sins.

- Psalm 130:4-5, 7-8

THOUGHT: Have you ever been in a situation without forgiveness? The anger, and shame, and self-justification, and revenge that never seems to end? Or maybe you've been part of a fight full of mutual hurt, where it seems impossible heal the rift?

Those situations are so hard to deal with. And forgiving can sometimes be such a hard thing to choose to do when we have so many stories and people around us in our daily lives that encourage us to merely justify our bitterness with more anger. It is so difficult to be the sole person trying to forgive in so many relationships and interactions every day-- it can make us feel weak and alone and wearied by it, if we're just trying to figure out how to on our own.

But the cool thing is, we don't have to be on our own-- we don't have to come up with the source of energy for our own actions of love and forgiveness. In this passage, David shows that the God he is describing actually models these relational actions for us. My dad used to joke with me "Do as I say and not as I do...", but this Father actually doesn't fail to live out the very things he calls us to. He forgives, he offers unfailing love. And our experiences relating to a God that forgives and loves allow us to do the same things ourselves with more ease. God starts the process of redeeming (restoring to full value and full connection, with love) our relationships, by showing us how FIRST.

CHALLENGE:  Do you have any relationships that need redeeming? [Think of redemption as making something good out of something bad, or exchanging something for its full worth, or restoring something completely. One image of redemption is the idea of flowers growing out of a grave-- beauty and life that can transform something terrible and bring goodness out of it.] Maybe it's your relationship with one of your parents, or your friend, a classmate, or maybe God himself. Take that relationship to God this week (journal or walk and pray), and ask him to remind you how often your life with him has been one of forgiveness. As you begin to experience those memories of love and forgiveness and meditate on how much grace God and others have offered you in your life, then ask God what sort of forgiveness He'd like you to pursue in this other relationship in return-- maybe the next step is something in your heart. Maybe it's a conversation with a person. Maybe it's prayer. Then pursue that.

And as you go about your life this week, keep your eyes out for the ways people and God smile and love you through your mistakes and through your hurts. You may be surprised at how much grace and forgiveness we depend on to make this world go 'round. May it remind you to insist on hope-- that it is possible to redeem anything and bring good out of it.