Read
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4
Reflect
Wanted: The Perfect Teacher
Teaches amazing lessons every day and gives away candy for correct answers. Gives no homework. Allows cell phones to be used in class. Never yells at students – in fact, never gets mad, even when students act out. Tutors for free in spare time. Gives only A+ grades. Loved by students and parents equally. Works for free.
Can you imagine anyone measuring up to that description? Honestly, I would think that the above ad would have been written by a student, and likely one who was struggling in school. But even if they thought they were getting the perfect teacher, even with those qualities, the teacher they got still wouldn’t be perfect, because there would be no real incentive to learn.
Not even the “perfect teacher” would truly be perfect. No one ever has been, except for Jesus, who never sinned even once. That’s certainly not the case with each of us. We all live with the curse of sin, inherited from our oldest ancestors, Adam and Eve. We’re born as little sinners, and we grow up as sinners. If God kept a written account of our wrongdoings, can you think of anyone who would have a clean record?
But the beautiful thing is that God is willing to forgive us and give us a fresh start. It would be like being in a class where you took a test and got many answers wrong. God, as your teacher, gives you the chance to admit your mistakes and ask forgiveness. Instead of holding every wrong answer against you, He wipes away the failing grade and gives you a clean page to begin again.
That doesn’t mean the wrong answers suddenly become right. It means His mercy is greater than your failure. The God who knows every mistake you’ve made is also the God who wants you to succeed and is willing to forgive what you could never erase on your own.
Every one of us fails when measured against God’s holiness, but He offers free forgiveness so that our record does not have to define us. All it takes is humility and a simple request. When we admit that we’re wrong and ask Him to forgive us, He wipes the slate clean and lets us begin again.
And that forgiveness should never make us casual about sin — it should make us stand in awe of His mercy.
As you go through your week, don’t forget to take God up on His promise to forgive. Keep your slate clean and ask God each day to forgive what only He can erase.
Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
