The Barn Door

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 For I acknowledge my transgressions: 

and my sin is ever before me.

 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: 

Psalm 51:3-4a

The story is told of a disobedient, young man whose father wearied himself with efforts to teach his son the importance of obedience. The father loved, taught, encouraged, admonished, and disciplined his son to no avail. The son’s explanation: I’d like to change, I want to change, but I’m not willing to change. 

When each confrontation was over, the son was sent to his room where he would stare out the window. Often he would see his father walk the path down to the old barn and return a great while later. The son thought, “Dad must need time to cool off, too.” He did not understand his father’s enormous pain or his father's great love.

After one particularly rough week, the boy noticed that the father’s pattern changed a bit. Each time his father left the barn he would nail a nail into the barn door. Several weeks passed, and the nails became more and more noticeable. In fact, the young man could see the shiny nail heads from his window as the sun set each evening.

Finally, the boy’s curiosity got the best of him, so he asked, “Why do you go down to that old barn, and what’s up with the nails?  Cooling down? Letting off steam?” The father explained that his many hours at the old barn were spent in prayer for his son - each nail representing each of his son’s disobedient acts.

    

After many more months the son finally came to grips with his sin and truly repented. For the first time he understood his father’s great love. His dad forgave him and allowed the son to take out all of the nails. Though the nails were removed, the scars (nail holes) remained.
    

When a lost or wayward soul comes to grip with sin and the love of the Father, then all is forgiven. The victory is then for the taking, but the scars (consequences of sin) remain. We can choose the sin, but we don't choose the consequence. When we begin to understand God’s love, then we begin to understand how to love.
Posted by PM

Psalm 51:1-17

1-2   What 3 requests demonstrate David’s desire for God’s total forgiveness?

3      What first step must I take in order to properly deal with my sin?
4      Against whom and in whose sight did David (do I) really sin?
        What exact words described who David sinned against?
        Did David hope to avoid or limit God’s judgment?
5      Why are we prone to do the wrong thing?

8      What comes before joy, gladness and rejoicing?

10    What did David want created and renewed? 
12    What did David want restored?

17    What does God see as a proper sacrifice?

Application: What sin has become comfortable to me?
                      What change needs to take place in my life?

Romans 5:6-8

6      How (and for whom) did Christ demonstrate His great love?       

7      How did God show His great love for me?

        

Application: How can I demonstrate the love of Christ to others today?

Create in me a clean heart, O God; 

and renew a right spirit within me. 

Psalm 51:10