Coming Forgiveness

Thursday, April 25, 2024

  Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:   1 Peter 1:18-19

...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Memory verse: Psalm 90:14

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  

Today's reading: 2 SAMUEL 23-24 LUKE 19:1-27

Coming Forgiveness

Relief or release from deep anxiety from guilt is so very precious that it is hard to imagine why some folks run from confession to God so hard and so long.

Luke 7 gives an account of Jesus going into the home of Simon the Pharisee(those looking for a reason to accuse Jesus). A woman described as a 'known sinner' came in, uninvited, behind Christ weeping and kissing His feet. When her tears had wet His feet she began wiping His feet with her hair and then put expensive perfume on them.

She was recognized as a sinner. The sin was not explained. There was no need. Her guilt had brought her in uninvited. How long had she carried this tremendous guilt that she would chance the wrath of a Pharisee to seek forgiveness from Jesus? She had only known judgement by the local Jewish leaders but felt such a load that she would do anything to get to the Master who could free her from her pain of guilt. She knew who He was-whether they did or not. She never spoke a word. Jesus knew her heart and felt her trust in Him.

She was freed from her guilt-completely forgiven-free-complete relief from years of burden.

(First, let's say we as church leaders need to examine our judgements over the 'sinners' of our communities and confess and get right-but that's not the point.)

The point is that Jesus came to set the captives free of the burden of sin, guilt, and shame. Are you carrying guilt? Are you known-at least to yourself-as a 'sinner'. Real shame comes from choices you have made to sin-not from things you could not control.

The woman did not have to be told to humble herself with Jesus. She even came from behind so as not to look Him in the face-she wept with shame.

Jesus felt her shame-knew her life-felt her trust(faith)-experienced her acts of contrition and forgave her.

You do not have to come from behind. We simply need to be willing to.

Take your sin and guilt before Jesus in humility. Jesus knows a sin-broken heart. He completely forgives and will never mention it again.

 ...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for carrying my sin and guilt and not bringing it to You. You are so merciful and great to forgive my wickedness. Bless you, oh Lord.

Merciful Father,

In the   name of Christ Jesus,

Amen