Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1
Ash Wednesday is a traditional holy day which starts the season of serious repentance for Christians who want to draw closer to The LORD JESUS CHRIST. It is the time to reflect on Scriptures and to bewail our manifold sins and short-comings… the things we have left undone as well as the things we have erroneously done. It is a time to practice self-denial, of some sort.
Known commonly as Lent or the Lenten season, the word itself actually comes from the basis of springtime and has no Christian basis excepting that the time of repentance occurs around Passover which occurs in Abib (roughly, April) which is in the spring.
Although Lent is only a church tradition, it seems to be a good one which has come down to us from both the Western and Eastern church assemblies. If seriously done, can bring forth much fruit… as all steps towards a serious discipleship do.
Thus, here is a Scripture to meditate upon during this time of deep repentance and joining our LORD in some small, minute way, in HIS+ passion and suffering.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1
Here is David’s call to The LORD. Like David, we ask for the LORD’s mercy not according to our right living, but according to the measure of the LORD’S own amount of loving kindness… which is enormous.
Is this mercy, this forgiveness, extended to all ? No. It is extended unto those who have entered into His+ Holy Covenant.
However, it is available to all … whosoever will come unto HIM+… His+ way. HIS+ great mercy is wonderfully and freely granted to ANYONE who will :
1) admit he is a sinner
2) confess all his sins as unrighteousness
3) convert unto living for JESUS CHRIST as LORD
4) enter the soul-cleansing waters of baptism
5) thus, being found acceptable to JESUS, he is born again of both water and Spirit (John 3)
6) will continue on steadfast in the faith, being mindful to forgive others as he has been forgiven.
What a mighty GOD we serve!
We thank THEE +, O Holy One+ of Israel, for extending your covenant to all, regardless of tribe or nation. We thank THEE+ that THOU+ hast opened our blinded eyes and self-serving hearts to our own sins, which have been and are many. Thank you for providing for us a way for our sins to be covered … by the Blood of Thy precious SON+ , JESUS CHRIST, our Savior. Help us to join HIM+ in HIS+ suffering, to the glory of Thy HOLY NAME. This we pray through JESUS CHRIST our LORD in the power of Thy HOLY SPIRIT, both now and forever. Amen.
Thus, here is a Scripture to meditate upon during this time of deep repentance and joining our LORD in some small, minute way, in HIS+ passion and suffering.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1
Here is David’s call to The LORD. Like David, we ask for the LORD’s mercy not according to our right living, but according to the measure of the LORD’S own amount of loving kindness… which is enormous.
Is this mercy, this forgiveness, extended to all ? No. It is extended unto those who have entered into His+ Holy Covenant.
However, it is available to all … whosoever will come unto HIM+… His+ way. HIS+ great mercy is wonderfully and freely granted to ANYONE who will :
1) admit he is a sinner
2) confess all his sins as unrighteousness
3) convert unto living for JESUS CHRIST as LORD
4) enter the soul-cleansing waters of baptism
5) thus, being found acceptable to JESUS, he is born again of both water and Spirit (John 3)
6) will continue on steadfast in the faith, being mindful to forgive others as he has been forgiven.
What a mighty GOD we serve!
We thank THEE +, O Holy One+ of Israel, for extending your covenant to all, regardless of tribe or nation. We thank THEE+ that THOU+ hast opened our blinded eyes and self-serving hearts to our own sins, which have been and are many. Thank you for providing for us a way for our sins to be covered … by the Blood of Thy precious SON+ , JESUS CHRIST, our Savior. Help us to join HIM+ in HIS+ suffering, to the glory of Thy HOLY NAME. This we pray through JESUS CHRIST our LORD in the power of Thy HOLY SPIRIT, both now and forever. Amen.
