“Humility and Forgiveness”
Welcome to April, I pray this month will bring healing and blessings as you diligently seek God with all your heart. As Easter is quickly approaching we will be looking at the subject of forgiveness. God’s forgiveness toward us and our forgiveness toward others. My earnest prayer for all of us, we will receive and accept the Lord’s forgiveness and in return forgive those who have hurt or wronged us. Unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment is like a cancer eating away our joy, peace and freedom.
Today’s scripture is a familiar one and a great place to start. But I do believe God wants us to take a fresh look at it from the perspective of the death and resurrection of Christ.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Solomon had finished building the Temple. The Lord has declared this is the place of sacrifice and worship. The Lord than came to Solomon one night and gave him the answer for when difficult times come. We read the answer here in today’s scripture. Notice the wording, first God is speaking to His people, “If My people, called by My Name.”
Now let’s look at this in view of the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus died and the sins of the world were placed upon Him. On the cross He proclaimed “it is finished.” Therefore we are forgiven, not only God’s people but all people. This may come as a surprise to many of you. But Jesus came to demonstrate the love of the Father and to forgive the sins of the world. Remember on the cross Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. The people Jesus were referring to were not followers yet, Jesus said they were forgiven.
This is the reason Jesus taught. “the only work the Father desires is to believe in the One He has sent.” We must believe Jesus died and paid the price for our sins. Our response is to humble ourselves under His mighty power, to believe and trust that His perfect and complete work on the cross was enough! Through the death and resurrection of Jesus all who have believed are healed. We are healed and set free from the greatest disease in this world, SIN!
If you are reading this today and you are struggling with guilt, shame or condemnation. God loves you and He sent Jesus to die for you so that you can be forgiven and set free. Salvation which includes forgiveness is a free gift from God. You simply need to believe and let God do His perfect work in you!
Thank You Jesus for the cross and the resurrection!
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