In the midst of his pain, an “afflicted man” remembered that God always remains the same.

Sin separates. By its definition, it pushes people apart. We see that vividly in Jesus' fourth word, as our sin separates him from God. But the beauty of that last sentence is that he was separated in our place so that God could say to every one of his children, "I will never forsake you!"

David learned God is pleased with a broken heart, one that is crushed by the reality of sin and its consequences. That’s the heart God cleaned and fills with his Holy Spirit.

Throughout the Bible, thirst has two meanings, one physical and one spiritual. Spiritual thirst is what we feel when we're far from God, drinking from dry springs of idolatry. Thus, on the cross, Jesus cries out in the place of sinners who run to idols every day. He reminds us that sin will leave us thirsty and invites us to himself and the living water only he can give.

David’s cover up killed his conscience. He learned the foolishness of hiding his sin and the blessedness of confession and community.

Even on the cross, Jesus cared about community. He didn't want his followers or his family to be alone, but to care for one another. In the same way, we need the church. We need one another. We need to do life together. Thankfully, God has surrounded us with the very thing we need.

What if every Sunday was an opportunity to grow in faith, in hope, in love, in community, in grace? And what if every CORE group was a community, a gathering of honesty, encouragement, and mutual building up in the faith? And what if every CORE member was a missionary, a Christian focused on eternal things, investing and inviting and evangelizing and serving as many as possible in Jesus’ name? And what if every home was a sanctuary, a place of worship where God was seen every day in the Word, where God was conversed with every day in prayer, where parents pastored their children and raised them up in the faith, where husbands and wives loved each other in Jesus’ name?

There isn't a better example of God's grace than the thief on the cross. With nothing to offer and no good works to possibly do, Jesus' second word proves salvation is a 100% gift of grace.

The first baby killed his baby brother. The sad story of Cain and Abel reminds us of the hideous nature of jealousy and the loving warning God gives to those who are green with envy.

So often we don’t realize we are sinning and how damaging our sin is. Jesus’ enemies didn’t. We don’t when we sin against God. They don’t when they sin against us. But Jesus teaches us the way of gracious forgiveness.