If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and
the truth is not in us. If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness. 1 John 8-9
Sometimes, it is better to forgive than to forget. Those were words that haunted me the other
day. I got into a debate where I was
falsely accused of something that I did not say. The discussion was spirted, and my answers were both pointed and direct. However,
one person did not accuse me, but I added them to the debate as if they
did. It was wrong. I was wrong.
After thinking about it, God just kept wearing on me that I had left
something open that needed to be closed.
The next day, I gave in, and apologized.
I admitted that I needed to set a better example as a Christian, and
that was on me. It was amazing how
gracious others were in my asking for forgiveness, and it was more uplifting
than the previous discussion we had had.
It reminded me of a key part of the Lord’s Prayer, which simply says,
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” It was a stunning how the simple act of
asking for forgiveness can be a greater act of love than we realize.
God’s grace is one of His greatest acts of love. In these times of strife and conflict, one of
the things that I have noticed is that we often fail to for lack of better term
‘stand down.’ Our need to be right has
become paramount, and there is no room for backing down. This can be destructive when we are so
willing to stand on what we believe that we do not see when we say something
that is truly harmful and wrong. Just
this past weekend, a well renowned pastor made a controversial statement about
slavery putting it into the context of something positive. His heart was in the right place, and it made
for an interesting point. But it failed
by ignoring the greater evil of it. He
followed up by giving a heartfelt apology that was readily accepted by many
black people who understood the love he had shown for others previously. That along with my own experience revealed a
couple of things. First if we love
Christ, we are given an opportunity to ask for forgiveness. A forgiving heart is one that is honest,
sincere easily noticeable either through a person’s history or the words
used. In either case, it reveals a level
of God’s heart within them. Second, we
are shown love if we are brave enough to right our wrongs. The verse today is a reminder of God’s mercy
on us should we be vulnerable to simply own up to wrongdoings. It ends up being more rewarding for it often
mends our own brokenness.
Grace is a wonderful thing!
In reading the book of Romans, Paul spoke frequently and lovingly of it
writing, “Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points,
knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special
messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that
I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:15-16). Finally, there is no
better example of the power of His grace than that of the adulterer brought
before Jesus. When no one cast a stone,
the exchange between Him and her is often the part of our narrative when faced
with our own sinful nature:
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn
you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8:10-11
Let us kneel before Jesus like she did willing to accept
guilt for our wrongs and be both reinvigorated and inspired by His grace. What sin is wearing on your mind and heart
today? How can assurance of God’s grace
uplift you? My prayer is that we
acknowledge our own imperfections and simply ask for forgiveness sake. Amen.
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