Bible Verse: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:31–5:2 (NIV)
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:38; Romans 3:23-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 8:12
Jesus died to be the sacrifice of sin for the world. All of us were equally guilty of sin (Romans 3:23-24). All of us needed a Savior, from the best to the worst of us. That’s why Jesus came: to close the gap between us and God by paying for our sins Himself.
Some of the last words of Jesus on the Cross were, “It is finished” (John 19:30), meaning the penalty for our sin was paid in full. We are forgiven because of God’s grace. We didn’t earn it or work for it; He offered it to us freely (Ephesians 2:8-9). He set aside His anger towards our sins and kindly forgave us. All we can do is simply receive it by faith and thank Jesus for it.
Once you accept the truth that Christ has forgiven you, you should also forgive yourself.
It’s peculiar when Christians see the virtue in forgiving others but not themselves. If God has forgiven you, you have no right to constantly remind yourself of forgiven sins. Let it go. You and I are not a greater judge than our holy God. If He chose to forgive our sins (Hebrews 8:12), we should do the same. This is humbling, but that’s how grace works. It puts the attention and glory back on God.
Remembering yesterday’s faults and sins (and we all have them) will keep you from embracing God’s grace for you today. It’s a tough way to live because if you are unforgiving towards yourself, you will be unforgiving towards those around you, perhaps even your wife and children. If your grace tank is empty, you’ll have none to spare for anyone else.
You will never run short of people who can disappoint you, but our biggest disappointment is often ourselves. We look in the mirror and see our faults, not God’s grace.
Allow God’s grace and forgiveness to be the new headline in your life. Quit repeating yesterday’s news. If God has made you a new man in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), make that the new headline. See yourself the way God sees you—forgiven by His grace.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your incredible and amazing grace in my life. I am forgiven because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. Help me never to forget the depth and reach of Your grace. Based on Your forgiveness of me, I choose to forgive myself for my past sins. I am letting it go because You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Reflection: We can sometimes become proficient at reacting in love and kindness to other people but be condemning towards ourselves, especially in our self-talk. God wants us to acknowledge our sin but also acknowledge His forgiveness when He gives it. When you catch yourself being unkind to yourself, remember that God is kind towards you. Learn from Him and adjust your mindset and behaviour accordingly.
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