Forgiveness
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ”Romans 5:8 NIVUK
Can you forgive yourself? When you do something wrong can you give yourself grace with the same level of intensity you would give to someone who has wronged you? Or better still the way God has forgiven you? Or do you beat yourself up, berate yourself mercilessly, belittle any headway you’ve made?
Jesus died for ALL our sin. He went to the cross for All sin, past, present and future. For All time, for All people, for Always.
When you are contrite and ask for forgiveness it’s done~forgiven~over~in the past~remembered no more.
Accept it and graciously, gratefully move on. Forget it too. Stop looking back. Looking back can result in a nasty trip and fall!
When we can’t get over the wrongs in our life, can’t forgive ourselves, we show a lack of understanding for how great, how deep, how wide Gods love is for us.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
Ephesians 3:18 NLT
His love is unconditional, there are no boundaries, no limits, it’s all encompassing, all inclusive. it’s compassionate, kind, powerful and given freely. He loves us just as we are, YES….with our sin. Don’t misunderstand me. He doesn’t condone our sin but He won’t withhold His love because of it. That’s why He sent His Son to die for us.
“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
1 John 4:10 NLT
I believe if we could wrap our tiny little minds around the depth of His love we could ‘go and sin no more’ like Jesus advised the woman caught in adultery in John 8:11 whose accusers left instead of casting the first stone (because not one of them could say they had never sinned, nope not one!)
We were not born into the Kingdom of God in order to live defeated lives. On the contrary, we were sent to live joy filled abundant lives. Showing the love of Christ wherever we go so many will want to gives their lives to Christ also. And it starts with us. If we can’t love ourselves well enough to forgive our own sin, how can we truly fully love the hurting souls around us the way they need to be loved? Loving thy neighbor as thyself wouldn’t be at all appealing to many of our neighbours!
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NLT
Forgive yourself and love yourself as Freely as God Does.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37 NKJV
This can apply to the way your treat yourself as well as the treatment of others.
Father, today I ask forgiveness for all the negative and harmful words I have spoken. I no longer want to be negative toward myself. Please help me transform my thoughts and understand how wonderfully you made me. Help me to speak kindness, hope and life. In Jesus' name. Amen