Forgiveness x3

You, Lord, are forgiving and good. (Psalm 86:5, NIV)

Christ demonstrates his unconditional forgiveness of us in this way: he forgives, forgets, and removes our sin from us. He does not merely declare forgiveness through words of absolution as we often read in the Bible or hear in church setting, (I forgive all your sins, Psalm 103:14), he forgets the sin we have committed (I will remember your sins no more, Hebrews 8:12), and separates it from us (As far as the East is from the West, so far has he removed our sin from us, Psalm 103:12); puts such great distance between it and us we cannot even recall nor find it any longer. This is nothing but true grace at work in our lives.

God’s promise to forgive so thoroughly is not only sweet truth to our ears but needed balm to our aching hearts. The forgetfulness and removal that accompanies divine forgiveness is a heavenly food that is sweet and a welcomed relief to our soul, heart, and mind.  

If we can possibly add anything sweeter and more liberating to this promise and activity, it is that he enables us to do the same toward others. Let’s pray,

What a gift you give us Lord, in this kind of forgiveness! May we never see it as owed to us nor commonplace, but always be amazed and humbled by it to the point that we also are willing to extend the same kind of forgiveness to others. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

Have you been transformed and set free by the forgiveness of God?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?