How do you respond when someone has forgiven you? Most of us, I hope, would probably express our gratitude for the forgiveness. And not only express our thanks but amend our ways, so it doesn’t happen again. But how do you respond when God has forgiven you?

After Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba, King David wrote Ps. 51 expressing his repentance. Note what David says in Ps. 51:12-13, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.” David wrote that he would teach or tell others of God’s goodness because he was forgiven. David responded to God’s grace by telling others of it.

Isaiah is another example of how we should respond to God’s grace. In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah sees a glimpse of God’s throne and falls on his face, terrified, for he knows he is a sinner. God sends a Seraph that tells him his sins are forgiven. We then read in Isa. 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah responded to God’s grace with thankfulness and service.

Both David and Isaiah show how we should respond to God’s grace. There is thankfulness for His magnificent mercy and gratitude demonstrated in the willingness to serve Him.

How have you responded to our God’s forgiveness?