God wants Repentance

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51: 7-17 NLT

The psalmist wants God to wipe away all of their sins so that the psalmist is renewed and restored to God.

In return, the psalmist promises to go to other sinners and teach what it means to be a follower of God. This will in turn cause the other sinners to repent.

So, this isn't just a personal request for forgiveness but a communal request. If one person asks God to turn them around, that person will help others to do the same.

God doesn't want offerings or sacrifices. God wants repentance.

Will you offer yours today?

Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims