Overwhelmed by Sin

June 12

(Psalms 65:1-4 NIV) “Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. {2} O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. {3} When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. {4} Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.”

(Luke 24:44-48 NIV) ““He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." {45} Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. {46} He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48} You are witnesses of these things.””

(Ephesians 1:3-8 NIV) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. {4} For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love {5} he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- {6} to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. {7} In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace {8} that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

Most of us do not come to God because our life is peachy keen. No, we come to God when we are broken and struggling under the weight of sin. When our sins overwhelm us, we cry out to God. He comes to us and takes the crushing burden off our backs. He makes it clear that this is why He came to Earth. This was the message of the early church and it is still the true gospel for today: that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. In Christ and Christ alone, we find forgiveness of sin. We have been chosen to receive His grace and be adopted as His children. We have been brought near to the place of God and filled with good things from His house. We have been richly blessed. This is why we praise Him. This is why we fulfill our vows to Him. This is why we pray to Him. And this is why we obey His command and preach repentance and forgiveness of sin to all nations. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day