Devotionals

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Forgiveness Part 2

Phil Russ

Asking for forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

What a great promise, but it comes with a premise, 'We have to confess our sins'.

We sometimes hold onto our sin instead of bringing it to God.
We all mess up in life and get it wrong, but we have a tendency to try to justify what we have done and make excuses for our actions.

"I wouldn't have sinned if it wasn't for him, so it's really his fault".

God isn't interested in our excuses. He just wants us to be honest and up-front with him about what we have done wrong.

Remember, We choose to Sin, God always provide a way out.

There is no need to make excuses, or blame somebody else to try to wriggle out of it. We need to say, "God this is sin; You call it sin; I call it sin, and that's all there is to it. Please forgive me". Then by His great love and Grace. He picks us up and dusts us off, then sends us on our way again, all clean, all restored.

Every time we take a wrong turn, or find ourselves swerving off the road, we have a choice; will we confess our sin or ask God to excuse us?

Forgiving Ourselves.

Sometimes we are not very good at forgiving ourselves. Maybe it's because we have a low opinion of ourselves and are not quite sure that we are lovable. This is why we can crave other people's affection and attention.
We can't bring ourselves to believe that we are attractive, or simply worth the bother.
Let me tell you that You are beautiful in the eyes of God. More precious than any jewel and he wants to lavish his unconditional love on you. He sent his son to die on a cross for you; that's how much he loves you.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)

As a child of God, we have to learn to forgive ourselves; and yet we can still have an inadequate grasp of God's Grace and forgiveness. So we tend to run away from the very thing that would free us.

By not forgiving ourselves, we are not only saying that our standards of acceptability are higher than God's. You are also making yourself holier than God, that's idolatry! If a perfect God forgives you, on what grounds do you, an imperfect person, refuse to forgive yourself.
It's pride that makes us think that somehow we have to pay, at least in part for what we have done.

If you don't forgive yourself, you still carry the guilt of the wrongdoing. This hinders intimacy with God and with others. You may feel unworthy to approach God. It will also have a knock-on effect in terms of general well-being, and our worship.

C.S. Lewis once said, 'If God forgive us, we must forgive ourselves; otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.

PRAYER:

Father, help us to remember to always come before You when we get it wrong. To confess our sin and not to make excuses, and help us also to not only to except Your forgiveness, but to forgive ourselves too Amen.


Final Note

What a great God we have. His love for us is beyond measure.
What a privilege and honour it is to stand before such a holy God. Cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Beautiful in his sight and to be called children of God.
The most precious gift of forgiveness is ours, freely given. The price paid for us.

© Phil Russ 2007

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