Freedom from Past Failures and Offenses

There is nothing like being actively involved in any work, ministry or in a place of contentment when an all incumbering moment arrests our thoughts-that ridiculous thing you did in 19__, or that foolish thing you said in 200_, or the way you handled that situation yesterday. We try to guard our mouths and hearts, but every once in an unguarded while that dreaded thing, the issue of life pops out and you can’t reel it back in, you can’t undo what you just did.  We are all guilty of this menacing attribute of the flesh, nevertheless, we purpose to yield to the Holy Spirit.

Can you imagine the Apostles Paul and Peter’s mindset after their past failures and offenses? Paul tells us in Galatians 1:13 how he use to persecute the church and even tried to destroy it prior to coming to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus, Christ. He said he was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13). Certainly we can relate to that, especially in our life before salvation.  Peter on the other hand walked with and knew Jesus Christ. Impetuous Peter, used by the enemy, offended our Savior by trying to prevent Him from fulfilling the will of God (Matthew 16:23) and on another occasion, he even denied our Savior three times (John 18:25-27).

Pause for a moment and think: How easy is it for you to forget those things which are behind? The enemy of our souls loves for us to rehash our foibles and gets a kick out of our cyclical browbeating. This type of thinking focuses on self, what YOU did, but what did JESUS do for you? The sacrificial death on the cross was for the atonement for every ridiculous thing, every foolish thing said, thought and done.  Jesus has completely forgiven us of sins past, present and sins to come. When our hearts condemn us, God says that He is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20) and check this out verse 21 says, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God." Oh my brothers and sisters, have confidence towards God and believe by faith and say to yourself, say to the enemy, and to your accusers, “Jesus has forgiven me” and press on toward the goal for the prize. There is an awesome eternal prize that awaits us as we press toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

PRAYER: Most Gracious Lord and Savior, we believe it by faith that Your work on the cross was sufficient to forgive us of every sin. We acknowledge our flaws and shortcomings and despite these we press towards You, the Author and Finisher of our faith, because we have confidence towards God. In You we live, move and have our being and there is none like You. None who is willing to forgive, none who is willing to redeem, none who is willing to love unconditionally. So, as we press towards Your love and Your call. Thank You, Jesus! We love You and amen!
By Sis. Paula Smith