The other day I
got angry with James for throwing snow in Sarah’s face soon after I asked him
not to do that. In my anger, I went back to vigorously
shoveling. A few minutes later James came up to me and asked “Mom, do you know
about forgiveness?” “Yes,” I said, “do you know about forgiveness? You could
ask Sarah to forgive you.” I overheard him walk back to Sarah and ask for her
forgiveness. Later that night he also asked for my forgiveness and said he had
prayed and asked God to forgive him. I had to ask God and James for forgiveness,
too…
As we talked
last week, we show our love for God by obeying Him and His laws. Just like
children don’t always follow their parents’ rules, we don’t always obey our
Heavenly Father. What do we do with our sin? What will God do with our sin?
God is holy, so
He must punish sin. He can either punish us for our own sin or we can accept
His punishment of Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26 God
presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood
– to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness,
because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished
– he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be
just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Do you still
stand guilty in your own sin or has God justified you? Have you accepted His
punishment of your sin on Jesus? If so, then you have been forgiven and
justified!
Alice