“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103: 10-14)
Have you ever wondered why children of God walk freely with their back straight? Let me explain. Guilt is one of those things that can paralyze many a life. Guilt is often caused when one does something wrong, concedes to it, maybe confesses, but still feels not fully forgiven. This can happen as a result of incidents in the past where in spite of one’s confession, still, one feels wasn’t fully forgiven. “Don’t do like the last time!” Who hasn’t experienced that biting tongue?
When one feels not fully forgiven the tendency is either to withdraw or worse, plunge back into the very crime with zest. After all, however much one says sorry, it does no good! There are those who walk with that heavy burden that continuously oppresses them with that guilt. It’s like a hunch buck they can’t wrestle free of. Each time they seem to move ahead comes that sour and nagging reminder of having failed once.
Fortunately for us the Bible is not a book of angels without fault. The Christian faith is about fallen man who confesses his sin and receives eternal forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The God we believe in is one who does not keep a “record of wrong” (1 Cor 13:5). The children of God walk with their backs upright because they are fully forgiven. Today if there is a matter weighing on you of some past misdeed all you need is to bring it to God- if not already- and you will receive a full pardon. It is only Satan the accuser of brethren who will try to make you feel like un forgiven by nagging you with thoughts of doubt. But the Lord will not bring it back like the world dies. Walk with your back straight and a smile that shames Satan! The Lord will not bring it back like the world dies. The Lord will not bring it back like the world dies.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy to know that by confessing my sins to you I am fully forgiven in Christ Jesus.
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
