SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:6 NIV Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for.
THOUGHT: It’s interesting that Solomon the Wise, as the writer of Proverbs is often called, didn’t say sacrifice is the way to atone for sin – after all that was the path God had set up before Jesus’ death became the final atonement. I think Solomon believed what God kept telling his people: the sacrifice means nothing without the broken and contrite heart behind it, and it’s as true after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ as it was then. Sorrow over our sin is a pathway to truly loving God, others and ourselves. Without it we can’t even appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made. Sorrow will make us more faithful and less ready to step outside what God has said is the way to life.
PRAYER: God, we want to love you, others and ourselves, but so often we don’t want sorrow to be part of getting there. Teach us the way to love and faithfulness.
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