Date: September 13, 2009 11:30 PM
Topic: +DEV+ F – Forgiveness of Sins

F – Forgiveness of Sins

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins ...who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” (Psalm 103:2-3)
Scripture Focus: Jonah 1-3

There’s nothing worse, it seems, than to be at odds with the person you love most. Seven of the hardest words to utter are, “I’m sorry. Will you please forgive me?” Often what we really mean is, “Please forget I ever did it. Don’t ever mention it again. Treat me as if I had never wronged you.”

When God forgives us, He removes our transgressions as far from us as the East is from the West. The God who can do anything chooses to forget our confessed sins. More amazing, He actually treats us as though we had never wronged Him.

That God holds no grudges is evidenced in the prophet Jonah. His flight away from God was beset by obstacles designed by God to encourage his obedience. It seemed Jonah would rather be dead than do what God asked of him. Three days and nights in a great fish helped Jonah ask God’s forgiveness and agree to obey Him.

Soon after Jonah’s turn-around, God used him for the conversion of the large, proud, pagan metropolis of Ninevah.

Insight: Your past need never hold you back if you truly accept God’s full forgiveness.

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