What else forgiveness brings into our life
Welcome, dear friends! Thanks God for this beautiful day He gave to us! Thanks God for another opportunity to fill ourselves with His living word!
Yesterday we began to discuss the importance of forgiveness. Everybody needs forgiveness. Forgiveness is the only way to freedom and abundant life. So first of all, forgiveness by God makes our transgressions void. Let’s see what else forgiveness brings into our life.
- Forgiveness gives us strength to walk through the stages of our life.
«Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.». (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Sin leads us astray, away from the course we have set, since exactly sin prevents us from focusing on Jesus. We gain the ability to focus on Jesus and receive necessary strength and inspiration to walk through the stages of life through forgiveness.
- Forgiveness grants us access to God’s heritage together with all holy men.
«… to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me». (Acts 26:18).
- Forgiveness renews the joy of salvation in us.
«Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
And blot out all of my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
Don’t throw me from your presence,
And don’t take your holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit». (Psalm 51:7-12).
Awareness of his sins and constant reminding about them takes away joy and peace from the person. Though, when the person knows his sins are forgiven, peace and joy constantly fill his heart. Sin destroys your relationships with God and with other people, also steals peace and joy. Forgiveness is the only way to return that joy.
- Forgiveness softens our heart towards other people. (see Luke 6:36-49).
«Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?» (Luke 6:36-41).
Daily confession of our sins before God reminds us how much we need His forgiveness. Such awareness influences the condition of our hearts. God’s forgiveness softens our hearts helping to see the necessity to forgive other people, because our sins have been forgiven. The more one has been forgiven the more he loves. One who received mercy becomes more sensitive to other people, because he remembers that God has forgiven him and had mercy on him.
Let’s continue tomorrow!
God bless each of you abundantly at this beautiful day!
Rufus Adjiboje, pastor
