Have you ever been wronged by someone? OK, that’s a silly question. All of us have been done wronged by someone at some point in our life. But, you ever known someone who did you wrong and then said sorry, but you know they didn’t really mean it? That’s the worst! I remember getting straight up and down “jacked” by a guy one time. When he was confronted about it, he called and offered me a cavalier apology and asked if I forgave him. Then he immediately hung up. I don’t believe he was truly sorry. His apology was shallow, his words were abrupt and there didn’t appear to be any remorse in his heart!
Remorse - that’s what indicates true repentance. The dictionary definition of remorse is; “a deep and painful regret for wrongdoing”.
The best Biblical example of true remorse would be that of King David. When he committed the sins of adultery and murder, he was absolutely remorseful. The Bible says that as soon as the profit confronted him with his sin, he acknowledged his sin and repented. We can then read his words of remorse in Psalms 51. He humbles himself, acknowledges his sin and asks for mercy. He realizes that since he was the one to sin, he needed to be restored by the one in which he sinned against – God.
Notice the contrast between King David and King Saul. Saul’s sins, by human standards, don’t appear to be as great as David’s. He was guilty of ignoring a minor detail in the mission that he was sent on and then he performed job responsibilities of a priest because he got tired of waiting. I mean, yeah, he sinned, but his sins weren’t the Big Ones like adultery and murder. Yet, notice what he does once he is confronted with his sin. He didn’t see the harm in his action and then offered a half hearted obligatory apology. He wasn’t truly sorry in his heart! He tried to justify his actions by minimizing his offense. Truth be told, many of us do this too.
Yet, even though, by human standards, his sin was greater, David is called a man after God’s own heart. Why? David understood remorse! In God’s eyes, it doesn’t matter what you do, he realizes that everyone has sinned and will sin. But, he is concerned with the condition of your heart in response to the conviction He offers.
David wrote in Psalms 51:16-17 “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.”
We would be wise to follow David’s lead. God knows you are going to sin. When you do, check your heart. Are you showing a deep and painful regret for the wrongdoing? That’s remorse.
Word…
PA
