By Lisa Wilmore
My Christian Friends,
As we journey throughout our lives, daily, we cannot forget the Lord’s benefit of forgiveness. If justice was to serve us accurately, we would be declared guilty and penalized to death. Everyone in this world is guilty of something. Even though people may try to canvas a picture that reveals their distinguished perfections, it is obvious that imperfections are prevalent in our lives. In fact, as long as we are breathing, walking and talking in this body, sin will exist.
The Word of God teaches us that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Roman 3:23); which simply means that no matter how good we think we are, sin will occur. We, as Christians, may categorize certain sins as “big sins” and others as “little sins”. However, all sin led to death and separated us from a Holy God. But thank God for His benefit of forgiveness. Although we have come short due to sin, we have a God who forgives through His Son, Jesus.
The Psalmist, David, penned in Psalm 103, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies…(Psalm 103:1-4).
Bless God for His benefit of forgiveness through Jesus who removed God’s punishment through His perfect sacrifice on the cross. Bless God for reaching the unreachable! Bless God for forgiving the unforgiveable! Bless God for His benefit of forgiveness!
God gave us the benefit of forgiveness for things that should have resulted in our demise. He looked beyond our faults and extended to us the benefit of forgiveness which wiped our record clean. With this benefit through Jesus Christ, we can bask in knowing that we have been justified- that is, declared not guilty.
There is nothing that we could do or could have done that would grant us the benefit of God’s forgiveness. Similarly, there is nothing that your spouse, friend, family member, etc. could do to warrant forgiveness from you, either. Since God has extended His forgiveness to us, we must, in like manner, extend our forgiveness to others.
Let us Pray: Lord, thank for Your benefit of forgiveness. You have proven your love for us through Your sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ. Thank you for forgiving us of our iniquities. Give us Your desired heart so that we are able to forgive as You have forgiven us of our transgressions. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
