The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 51:1-4, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight,

So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou

dost judge.”

David the king had sinned. His lust for Bathsheba led him into adultery.

His adultery led him to murder Bathsheba’s husband, so he could have

her. But David was tormented within himself because of his sin. The LORD

used Nathan the prophet to provoke David to repent. The LORD also took

the life of the illegitimate child, leading to David’s prayer for forgiveness.

Verses one through three reveal the desperation of David’s heart. He deeply

regrets all the wrong he has done, but he cannot rid himself of his sin. He cries

out for the LORD’s mercy and forgiveness. Then in verse four, he says an

amazing thing: “Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned…” To be sure, David

had sinned against Bathsheba; he had sinned against Uriah, her husband; still,

he insists that his sin is basically against God. Think about that. Every sin we

commit affects others; but all sin is first and foremost against the LORD!

When we accepted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior of our lives, we committed

ourselves to Him. And when we sin, our sin is always viewed as against Him!

Remember that it was He who died on the Cross for our sin. Before the Cross,

Jesus had never known sin. He freely took our sin upon Himself that we might

have eternal life. Sin can be forgiven; but there are severe consequences we

experience when we sin. God loves us; but, as a loving parent punishes a child

for the child’s own good, God punishes us, so we will not repeat the sin which

He died to put away. Confess your sin quickly! He can and will forgive you.

Our love and prayers for you ascend daily. Please keep us in your prayers,

as well.

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”