Emphasis Preaching Journal

Being married isn't too bad. Actually a lot of the time it is good -- really good. It can be fun to share the ups and downs of life with someone you really love.

But it can be tough -- even terrible. In fact, it can be worse than not being married at all. When your spouse has done wrong, really screwed up, it can hurt badly. To love very, very much is to be very, very vulnerable.

The most painful part of all, however, is to admit, "I am at fault. In this case I really blew it. I am sorry I hurt you so much. If you can, please forgive me." Admitting to one's mate that you are wrong, and asking for forgiveness, is the one thing more difficult than saying, "I forgive you."

God said to his people, "I was like a husband" to you. He discovered his wife had been unfaithful. Not just once, but over and over. And with many. Marriages are intended to be "forever." But they can be broken by unfaithfulness.

Without even waiting for a response from the guilty spouse, God announced what he would do. "I forgive. I will forget the past." He renews the relationship.

And we are empowered to renew ours.

And to say, "I am sorry."

And to say, "I forgive."

And to say, "I will try to forget." Thank you, Jesus.