This is the Faith I Live By: God forgives sin.
Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Friday, May 3, 2019
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“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because delighteth in mercy.”
God’s Character
God is not a pouty, embittered friend who holds grudges when you do Him dirty. He is nothing like us. However, He is definitely not pleased when we sin. Every time we choose ourselves over God we wound His heart damaging our relationship with Him. How can we be so callous and casual with sin, when God has invested so much? But in spite of us, God always finds it within Himself to forgive us and enfold us in His love.
God’s Standards
Now, I do not want to give you the wrong impression about God and His view on sin. Yes, He is gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Yes, He is full of mercy for thousands of people; forgiving all sorts of sins. But God will not turn a blind eye and clear unrepentant people of their sinful debts. His grace does not just pardon us. It also empowers us to “go and sin no more.” It is His love and mercy that brings us to our senses and produces the desire within us to repent. But once the desire is birthed it is our responsibility to act. God will not be complicity in our sinful behavior by acting like it doesn’t matter. It does matter. Our sinful behavior has a profound impact on our relationship with God and others. Sin is serious. Sin required the very life of God’s only son.
Our Responsibility
So what’s the least we can do when we sin? I am so glad you asked. The least we can do when we sin is confess and forsake our sins. But that’s only the first part. After we confess and forsake, then we need to embrace the holiness reform plan God designed for our lives. Let us give thanks for the splendid gift of salvation. Let us learn to love like Jesus loved. And let’s begin by surrendering our all to Him so that we are fully enlisted in His service with no reservations.
By God’s grace, this is the faith I live by. I pray this be the same for you, in Jesus’ name.
