our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Our Guilt Is Gone
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:5
As a young girl, I invited a friend to browse with me through a gift shop near my home. She shocked me, though, by shoving a handful of colorful crayon-shaped barrettes into my pocket and yanking me out the door of the shop without paying for them. Guilt gnawed at me for a week before I approached my mom—my confession pouring out as quickly as my tears.
Grieved over my bad choice of not resisting my friend, I returned the stolen items, apologized, and vowed never to steal again. The owner told me never to come back. But because my mom forgave me and assured me that I had done my best to make things right, I slept peacefully that night.
King David also rested in forgiveness through confession (Ps. 32:1–2). He had hidden his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam. 11–12) until his “strength was sapped” (Ps. 32:3–4). But once David refused to “cover up” his wrongs, the Lord erased his guilt (v. 5). God protected him “from trouble” and wrapped him in “songs of deliverance” (v. 7). David rejoiced because the “Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” (v. 10).
We can’t choose the consequences of our sins or control people’s responses when we confess and seek forgiveness. But the Lord can empower us to enjoy freedom from the bondage of sin and peace through confession, as He confirms that our guilt is gone—forever.
Lord, when we confess our sins and receive Your forgiveness, please help us believe our guilt is completely and forever wiped away.
When God forgives, our guilt is gone.
一笔勾销
我说：“我要向耶和华承认我的过犯。”祢就赦免我的罪恶。-诗篇32篇5节
当我还是个小女孩的时候，曾邀朋友一起去逛我家附近的礼品店。没想到，她竟抓了一把漂亮的发夹，硬塞进我的口袋里。她没付钱，就拉着我夺门而出。我被罪恶感折磨了一个礼拜之后，才向母亲全盘托出，眼泪也扑簌簌地流下。
我很自责当时做了错误的选择，任凭朋友行窃。于是，我前往礼品店将原物奉还，郑重道歉并保证绝不再犯。虽然老板不准我再踏进店门一步，但母亲已经原谅我，也让我确定已经尽力弥补过错，因此那晚我终于可以安然入睡。
大卫王也是在忏悔之后，罪蒙赦免才得平安（诗篇32篇1-2节）。他曾掩盖对拔示巴和乌利亚所做的恶行（撒母耳记下11-12章） ，直到他耗尽心力（诗篇32篇3-4节）。然而，只要大卫不再“隐瞒”他的过犯，上帝就赦免他的罪恶（5节）、保守他“脱离苦难”，并以“得救的乐歌”环绕他（7节）。大卫满心喜乐，因为“倚靠耶和华的，必有慈爱四面环绕他”（10节）。
当我们认罪并寻求饶恕时，我们无法掌控罪恶所带来的后果，以及别人的回应。但上帝会赐下力量，让我们能挣脱罪恶捆锁得享自由，并藉着悔罪得享平安。而且，祂也表明，我们的罪孽已一笔勾销了！
主啊，当我们认罪并接受祢的赦免，
求祢帮助我们全然相信，祢已完全涂抹我们的罪恶。
只要蒙上帝赦免，我们就无须再有罪咎感