Mosaiek Church Lent 2025: Jesus' Questions in SufferingНамуна

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner — yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. 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 loyal spirit within me.

-Psalm 51 (NLT)

There is nothing more difficult in life than being betrayed, and the closer that person is to us, the harder the betrayal is to process. It was part of Jesus' journey to be betrayed by someone close to him.

Reflection: What about us? We have all betrayed Jesus.

Think about a recent event where you made a big mistake. Maybe you did something that had a big impact on your life. Maybe it hurt others. Maybe you broke a promise. Maybe you said something intentionally to hurt someone. Maybe you were in a relationship and betrayed someone you made a promise to. Maybe you are in the middle of such a relationship now. What was the effect of that experience on your life? On you physically? Emotionally? Socially?

God now offers you the gift of confession. We do not confess so God will love us, so that He will be merciful to us. He already is. Deep in the heart of God, there is always a deep desire to forgive us. It is that love that Jesus brought to earth. It is that love that Jesus took to the cross. Deep within God's heart, there is a desire to forgive, heal, and restore us. This is the gift of confession. Confession opens the door of our lives so that God's forgiveness and love can come in, so His grace, freedom, and healing can come in. I desire that door to open in your life today as well.

Prayer: I ask for the grace to become aware of my shortcomings and receive Your forgiveness for them.