Anyone who knows me will no doubt give a bad report of me. It is shameful to admit but what can I say? My best righteousness are a filthy garment (Isaiah 64:6). I truly am the foremost of sinners. I have no defense. I have no excuse.

[C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory]

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him to do something quite different. I am asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says “Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us two will be exactly as it was before.” But excusing says “I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.”

What can I say? My only hope and standing is that I am forgiven in Christ. Zechariah 3:1-6. And so it is for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ.

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Job 40:4.

What hope do I have? Only that my Lord would be so kind to save a wretched sinner like me. Luke 18:13. Luke 19:10. Mark 2:15-17. That He would be so gentle and tender towards me. It is only because of who He is that I am able to approach the throne of grace and receive mercy. Hebrews 4:16.

“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:6–7.

If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4

Praise be to the Lord for His throne of grace! May all the abject come to receive from the merciful God. Amen.