Today's
scripture: Psalm 32:1-2
Forgiven.
Stop and read that word again. We who follow Christ talk about being forgiven all the time. It's a foundational principle of our faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins and to offer forgiveness.
Sometimes, though, I think we use a word so much we trivialize its meaning.
Forgiven.
It's defined as "to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve."
We say we're forgiven—and we are. Then, often, one of two things seems to happen. We either accept forgiveness and go on our merry way, living as we choose. Then we go back every once and a while to confess only to continue the cycle.
Or we continue to beat ourselves up over past sins, forgetting the second part of the definition: absolve. Absolve is defined as "to free from guilt or blame and their consequences."
Jesus hasn't just forgiven us from our sins, He has taken the burden of those sins off of us and has placed them on Himself. Our Lord doesn't want us to live with guilt. In fact, His word reminds us:
Forgiven.
Stop and read that word again. We who follow Christ talk about being forgiven all the time. It's a foundational principle of our faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins and to offer forgiveness.
Sometimes, though, I think we use a word so much we trivialize its meaning.
Forgiven.
It's defined as "to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve."
We say we're forgiven—and we are. Then, often, one of two things seems to happen. We either accept forgiveness and go on our merry way, living as we choose. Then we go back every once and a while to confess only to continue the cycle.
Or we continue to beat ourselves up over past sins, forgetting the second part of the definition: absolve. Absolve is defined as "to free from guilt or blame and their consequences."
Jesus hasn't just forgiven us from our sins, He has taken the burden of those sins off of us and has placed them on Himself. Our Lord doesn't want us to live with guilt. In fact, His word reminds us:
How far has the Lord taken our sins from us?
Farther than the distance from east to west!"
(CEV, Psalm 103:12)
He has forgotten our sins. We should do the same.
If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins, you are forgiven. Be grateful for what He did for you. Live to please and honor Him. Find joy in the confidence of your salvation.
For you are indeed blessed.
If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins, you are forgiven. Be grateful for what He did for you. Live to please and honor Him. Find joy in the confidence of your salvation.
For you are indeed blessed.
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