Day 15: Give Us Clean Hands

I have had a few songs in mind lately that speak about forgiveness.  It is not an easy topic, but forgiveness is one of the truest and purest expressions of love that God has for us.  There is an old (and not very good) movie called Love Story.  The theme of the movie is "Love means never having to say you're sorry."  Hollywood got that one wrong.  Love certainly means seeking forgiveness, being willing to give it and being willing to receive it.

Give Us Clean Hands is a good reminder of what God's forgiveness is.  The chorus goes like this:
Give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

God's forgiveness cleans our slates.  He leaves us without stain - renewing our hands for the purpose of His work and renewing our hearts for the purpose of His glory.  I think that God's forgiveness often comes in subtle mercies and graces in our lives that we may not recognize at first as His forgiveness.  There are also two parts to His forgiveness - the giving end and the receiving end.  We have to be willing to receive His forgiveness.  I am guilty of hiding behind a hardened heart, and to resist God's willingness to make things new in life.  I have been learning throughout this past year that it is alright to have a broken heart - we often need it so we can let out the things we are holding on to and to allow God's love and forgiveness a place in our heart.

In the bridge of this song, it talks about God being the God of Jacob.  God's forgiveness is one of the most steadfast qualities about Him.  He has been forgiving long before we were in need of it.  The forgiveness he gave to Jacob, Sarah, Moses, Rebecca, Adam and Eve, is the forgiveness He gives us today.

As God's children, we are also called to forgive one another - I have a song for that tomorrow :)

~SP

These were my co-workers and family over the summer.  I am thinking of them today because we played this song a lot together over the summer.  They played a huge role in the breaking and renewing of my heart.  I learned a lot of about God's grace and forgiveness alongside them this past year.