We Must Learn To Accept Forgiveness — Sunday Thought
Being a Christian doesn’t mean we do not fail miserably at times. It does not mean that there are times that we do not sometimes transgress in a way(s) that haunts us for long periods of time.
I recall such a time in my Christian life; when for no explicable reason I told a lie to a complete stranger. Before the lie was completely out of my mouth I felt gutted. I was ashamed. I was beyond angry with myself and I was crushed that I had failed God.
Even though I had immediately asked the Lord to forgive me for lying, I was haunted by my failure. I agonized over my failure for days and then I realized that agonizing over sin that God has forgiven me, can be the enemy attacking my spirit and it can also be a form of our saying God’s forgiveness isn’t enough for us.
Scriptures tell us that when God forgives, He also forgets: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12 KJV).Even though I had immediately asked the Lord to forgive me for lying, I was haunted by my failure.
Mychal Massie
This is not a license to sin; rather it is a cause to give thanks unto our merciful God in Heaven. It is inevitable that we will sin, but God’s word assures us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 KJV)
Once God has forgiven us we must also learn to forgive ourselves. The Apostle Paul did not wear the sin of his past like a shroud nor did the Apostle Peter refuse to accept that he was forgiven for denying the Lord.
As Christians we are forgiven of our past sins; and the sins we commit daily by thought, word, omission, and/or deed God will forgive as we ask. Praise God our Father in Heaven is willing to forgive if we ask. Let us be willing to accept His forgiveness when we receive it.
READ: Romans 7:15-8:115 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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About the Author
Mychal Massie
Mychal S. Massie is an ordained minister who spent 13 years in full-time Christian Ministry. Today he serves as founder and Chairman of the Racial Policy Center (RPC), a think tank he officially founded in September 2015. RPC advocates for a colorblind society. He was founder and president of the non-profit “In His Name Ministries.” He is the former National Chairman of a conservative Capitol Hill think tank; and a former member of the think tank National Center for Public Policy Research. Read entire bio here