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15 Nov: The Joys of Forgiveness!

2026 Matthew Boswell

I am sure that it will be no surprise to anyone that in order to deal with our sins we have to first acknowledge them and then repent from them. Consider the parable of the ‘Prodigal Son’. Before he made the journey back home he first had to acknowledge the condition he was in and develop a desire for this situation to change. He had to understand the importance of returning home with a repentant heart. And what is it that turns a person’s heart back to the Lord? It is the sorrow that results from the sin that is committed.

Consider the situation that David finds himself after his sin of adultery and murder. It is right to mourn our iniquity, to grieve the wrongs we have committed, and to lament the ways we have broken God’s laws and even His heart.

The good news that results in our repentance is that we receive ‘forgiveness’. You see that illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son. You see that in David’s repentance: Ps. 51:1,2 “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness. According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my see.” You see in David’s words, (a man after God’s own heart) an expectation of being made whole again. You see that same expectation from the Lord Himself when he was teaching them about prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Mtt 6:12)

From our repentance and forgiveness, we find joy and restoration. David echo’s these things Ps 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” As David’s response to his situation is reveals – it is right that we experience the sting of sin and sorrow before we can revel in holiness and happiness again.

David’s plea for restoration contains a measure of beauty not quite captured in the English translation. David asks that his joy would “shuv” — turn back, return to him. It is as if David’s sin sent joy marching away from him. Now he pleads for it to return to him as quickly as possible. He is describing the sadness of sin choking out the joys that flow from salvation. The peace he once had with God has dried up. The smile of God seems hidden behind the clouds of his iniquity. So he prays for a ray of God’s grace to break through and warm his soul once again.

Notice David’s proclaimed source of joy. His joy is rooted in the salvation of God. When it comes to true Christian joy, only God can give it, and only God can restore it when it has been lost. Rom 5:1 “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When we turn to God in repentance, we go to Him rightly mourning our sin, yet solid joy stands ready to greet us on the other side. (Consider: Prodigal Son/Father) The Lord does not leave us in our sorrow. Sorrow over sin may last for the night, but joy comes with forgiveness in the morning Ps 30:5 “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Later David writes: Ps. 32:5, 11 “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. . . . . Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice you righteous one; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

Look carefully at David’s words. First, he acknowledged his sin before God in honest and open confession. He then received forgiveness from the Lord. This unlocked the door to restored relationship with God, leading to gladness and rejoicing.

The prophet Isaiah used similar language when he called the people to repentance. He declared, Isaiah 55:7, 12 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him,
and (return) to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. . . . . For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace.”

As we turn to the New Testament, we find this same pattern. In both of Peter’s sermons (Acts 2 & 3) he instructs his audience with the requirement of repenting. Paul states this very clearly: Acts 17:30 “Therefore having overlooked the time of ignorance, God is not declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent.” 1 John 1:8,9,10 “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves …. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us…. (but) if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Time after time, we find the call to go to God in mourning over our sin and the promise of finding the joy of full forgiveness in Him. Even more remarkable is this: When we repent, God not only restores our joy but also joins in our rejoicing. Two parables in Luke 15 illustrate this truth. In one account, Jesus told of a shepherd who left his ninety-nine lambs in search of his one lost lamb. When he finally found it, he stretched it across his shoulders and carried it home, rejoicing (Lk 15:3-6).

Jesus also told of a woman who lost a precious coin and stopped at nothing to find it. When she did, she rejoiced wholeheartedly and invited others to join in her joy (Luke 15:8,9). Jesus concluded with this: “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Heaven rejoices when sinners repent.

God delights in and is glorified by answering prayers for forgiveness and restoration. He delights in and is glorified by giving us clean hearts and renewed spirits, dwelling with us through the Spirit, and restoring His joy to our lives as He upholds us.

David’s petitions teach us to turn to the Lord in dependence and humility as we hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ and cry out for renewal. The Lord is merciful, and He welcomes us to rejoice in the salvation that He has so graciously given.

Are you burdened by the weight of your sin? Joy awaits you on the other side of repentance. There is singing and gladness and an ever-flowing stream of delight, and God Himself is its source and current. Has your joy marched away because of your transgression? Turn to Him and acknowledge your sin before your Savior and receive forgiveness in the mercy of the Lord. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

8 Nov: DEEPER Into James

James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The first teaching point we see in James is how we can and should handle the difficulties and struggles that we encounter in life.

You will notice, as I stipulated last week, that James does not say “feel” all kinds of joy with your trials but “count it” / reckon it, think through your trials and find the joy or comfort you need to endure your difficulties. Numerous other passages speak to having struggles in our lives: Rom 5:3-5 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Rom 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

And in Philippians we see a similar teaching Philippians 4:6,7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Notice, these passages indicate that these “trials of many kinds” will come. It’s not a maybe. It’s a matter of when and how often. And what purpose can these trials serve? James says, “Consider” or “Count” it pure joy. See it as a plus!, not a negative. Not because of what I feel, but because of what I know. I know the test I undergo now produces something in the future if I overcome. To overcome – to persevere – we must have the proper mindset.

Perseverance: Hupermone – staying power. Patient endurance . Literally the word means staying under – and not cracking, not running away. When I do that, we are producing spiritual strength, tenacious faith. Just as muscles grow under weight and pressure – James says the testing, the pressure we are under produces perseverance and if we let it do its work—that will lead to growth/maturity. So, when we persevere under pressure the trials prove our faith.

James 1:5-8 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubt, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Remember from last week this double-mindedness is a person who is not “unsure” but one who is divided – one foot in the Kingdom and one foot in the world. Jesus Himself condemned such a person – Mtt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters …. You cannot serve both God and money.”

The kingdom answer here is found in the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ assurance to us that God knows our needs; we are not to worry about the cares of tomorrow (Mtt 6:25) but trust in the Lord. When we look to ourselves and our abilities and our own planning to provide for the future, we are not in unison with the Lord. So James tells us to gain the wisdom we need to make the right decisions and to have the right mindset. – and in order to have that wisdom we must ask God for the direction and understanding we need.

Consider the story of the Orkney fisherman who raged against God as he watched his little boat being destroyed in the storm but had no knowledge that this same storm was also destroying a third of what was called the “Invincible Spanish Armada,” thus saving England from invasion.

I can think I know what’s happening from my perspective and blame God—or I can ask him for wisdom and grow in faith to trust Him with my future. Only in this way can we fulfill Paul’s instructions: Phil 4:6,7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So how should we pray? First and foremost, ask for the peace of mind to deal with your present day trial. Remember the Lord’s Prayer and pray that He guide us into doing what His will is in that situation. Pray for the Lord to give us the wisdom and strength to understand, to accept and follow. So how should I pray? For comfort—for God’s presence and His wisdom!

And know this - praying for wisdom may not get us what we want, but what we need. Hebrews 12:5-6, 11 “And have you forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. … No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

I am not saying that all trials and struggles come as discipline but in many of our struggles there are going to be lessons that we can learn to become more like our Lord and Savior. Ultimately, that is the desire that should be at the heart of our lives. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17 that we would be united with one another and with the Father/Son.

If we are able to submit and commit ourselves to trusting and faithfully following the will of the Lord then we will be rewarded: James 1:12 “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Staying faithful through trials, growing in faith and understanding, trusting in the Lord for our future – these will all ensure that our future will see us in eternity with the Father and all His faithful children.

This promise is so important for us to believe that it is given to us in a number of passages: Romans 3:22 “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe”. Rom 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” 2 Tim 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Luke 14:13,14 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the cripple, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Remember – this is the Lord telling, promising us this. Gal 6:9 “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” 1 Peter: 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Rev 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

This is how ALL our trials will eventually come to an end – with a reward;

this is how OUR story will end!!!

Praise the Lord!!!