I’m convinced that one of the hardest things to do is for a person to forgive himself of past sins or discretions. I’m guessing we have all been there-either personally or with a friend or someone we know.
It might go something like this:
- Person: Does God forgive all my sin?
- You: Yes. I firmly believe He does.
- P: I’m not too sure about that.
- Y: Why?
- P: I’ve done some really bad things. If I told you everything, you would turn away from me or it would at least curl your insides.
- Y: Try me.
- P: I just couldn’t. You would no longer like me or want to be my friend.
- Y: First, that is not true. Second, what does my reaction have to do with God?
- P: Because He would turn away and say, “That’s too much. I just can’t.”
You can carry that conversation on if you like. I want to stop it and add my thoughts. This conversation or one like it, and the thought of that person, came to mind when I read Psalm 130:3-4 this morning. “Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.” Can it be any clearer? Consider I John 1:9 which says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
I relish the truth that God forgives and when He does He forgives totally and completely. No hanging on. No crossing His fingers. It is not only forgiven but also forgotten.
Now…if we can just forgive and remind ourselves of that.
God forgives us readily when we confess our sins to Him. Great reminder that there is nothing that God cannot do.
Blessings, Bill!
I can only say Amen to that Martha.
Thank You, Jesus. There are now words to express my undying gratitude and adoration.
That is so good Linda. Thanks.
That is one of the many reasons I love the apostle Paul. When he was Saul there was nothing to like about him. Paul better than anyone understood grace, what it meant, how to receive it, and how to give it. Paul did not hold on to his past once he was forgiven, he did not let his past keep him from doing God’s work. He would only recall it to teach lessons not to beat himself up about it. Paul knew the power of grace, and he knew it was a gift from God, not something we could ever earn, and he taught those lessons extremely well, to every church he helped start.
That is a great point about Paul, Gail. The depth of his guilt must have been great but then he writes about God’s grace. WOW!