by Pastor Douglas Brauner

God’s Mercy Covers EVERY Sin.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.” 
Psalm 19:12 English Standard Version

I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. I’ve broken a window trying to throw a rock over a house. I’ve run a red light causing an accident. I’ve made some interesting verbal miscues that I’d rather not go into in this devotion as they’re still rather embarrassing.

These pictures are the result of a mistake I made in loading film into my camera. You’ve probably had that gut wrenching feeling yourself when you find out after the fact that you have made a mistake, a mistake that might have had serious consequences. My mistake only cost me a roll of film, however, some of us have made mistakes that have cost a great deal more.

King David knows how we feel, only the mistakes he’s talking about are his hidden sins against God and others. There are those miscues that we make in life that are hidden from our eyes, mistakes we didn’t even know about until they are revealed to us. Then there’s that sinking feeling when we realize our sin.

How could we have been so oblivious? How could we not see what we were doing? Is there any hope even for those sins we’re unaware of committing?

David found his hope in his merciful God. He is not throwing up his hands and saying, “What’s the use?” when he asks, “Who can discern his errors?” He finds his refuge in God’s mercy. “Declare me innocent from hidden faults.” David takes responsibility for these sins, yet he knows that his only hope is God’s acquittal.

Here’s where Jesus’ cross has the greatest power you and I will ever know. His blood cleanses not only those sins of which we are aware, it also covers those sins which remain hidden.

It’s time to breathe. God’s mercy goes so deep that even sins that we’ve committed without knowing it are covered in his blood.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado