An Inward Journey by Barry L. Davis

HEART OF CONTRITION

 Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went away, crying bitterly. .- Matthew 26:75 (NLT)

      Jesus??™ prophesy had come true. Peter had fervently denied that he even knew the Christ. As the rooster crowed, the tears began to fall. Peter??™s distress resulted from a deep-seated acceptance and understanding of his own guilt before God. These were tears of regret ??“ the kind of weeping that only comes to those that are sensitive to their own wounding of God. It is similar to a child that has turned against his/her parents and now, after the fact, wishes there was a way to take it all back. The weeping does not come from fear of punishment, but from shame.

      How long has it been since we have wept over our sin? So often it is a hasty, ???forgive me, Lord??? at the end of the day, rather than tears of repentance drawn from the depths of a broken heart. Perhaps it stems from a lack of understanding the grace of God? A full realization of salvation by grace leads us to contrition. It is not that God cannot or will not forgive. It is in the very promise of His forgiveness that we are led to a deeper level of shame over our transgressions. The better we understand the depth of God??™s forgiveness, the more likely we will be to experience shame over what we are asking Him to forgive.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, forgive me for taking sin lightly. Thank you for your grace.