Monday, February 17, 2003
Monday, February 17, 2003
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
The closer to God we are, the more conscious we are of our sins. That's the truth of the matter
and if we do not feel the weight of our sinfulness then probably neither do we feel a great sense
of closeness to a holy God.
(Psalm 32.1
NRSV)
John W. Keith, a Baptist pastor in Oak Ridge, TN took his father to Israel. When they got to
Jerusalem and viewed the wailing wall there was a great crowd of people praying. The guide told
them that the Jews would start praying at one end of the wailing wall and make their way to
where the Holy of Holies used to be. The guide told them that an unusual phenomenon would
occur. When the people would begin to pray at the wailing wall their confession of sins would not
bother them too much, but the closer they got to the Holy of Holies the more aware of their sins
they became and they would weep.
Dear Jesus, draw me close to you as I worship you and seek your forgiveness. Amen.
