We are Forgiven

Hello, Bridge family. This week, we learned that God is willing to forgive us and give us a new start when we have done wrong. We studied this through King David's story, especially his repentance after stealing Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and having Uriah killed, as seen in 2 Samuel 11. Our message came from Psalm 51, where David asks for God's mercy. This Psalm shows trusting in God’s grace to forgive, no matter what we've done.


Face it, we live in a society where failure seems final. As the saying goes, failure is not an option. But the reality is we do fail. Quite a bit, actually, especially when it comes to obedience to God. Or, in the case of our children, their failure to obey us. As parents, we need to reinforce for our children that failing to be obedient and doing wrong is not the end-all and should not define who they are; we need to be models of God’s grace and mercy in our homes. This is not to suggest we shouldn’t punish our kids when they do wrong, but we must be able to move on once the punishment has been enforced. When we fail to move on, when we keep reminding our kids of what they have done, we allow that to define who they are.


Can you imagine if God did that to us? If we are honest, most of us probably wouldn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning. So why would we do that to our kids? Their lives are hard enough outside the home; shouldn’t our homes be a source of love and forgiveness? There is a verse in Isaiah that I’ve always liked, but those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (40:31 NLT).


God’s promise is that, in Christ, we are forgiven, and in the Holy Spirit we will find new strength to do better. Failure to always do good is not the end but a chance to do better as parents. If we model this for our children, we can let the light of Christ shine in us and help them understand what it means to be defined by God’s love rather than by their failures.


Remember, as long as your child is at home, you have a wonderful opportunity to share the Bible. Together, explore its stories, discuss how they relate to daily life, and encourage deeper family conversations. This makes faith an exciting and meaningful journey. God bless. I look forward to seeing your family on Sunday.


Pastor Bob