Nov 26 2021

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

In this verse, John reminds us that our sins have been forgiven once and for all. Jesus made it possible for us to be wiped clean of all our wrongs. Because of Him, we are able to stand before God completely clean, as if in robes of white that signify our own purity. Today, let's think about the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us.

Have you ever done something wrong and immediately regretted it? I certainly have. In fact, I can think of instances in my life where I despised the little voice in my head that convicted me and instead went ahead with my own plans. The feeling afterward was terrible. Indeed, I've heard it said that there is no one more miserable than a Christian living in sin. When we sin, we wound God and reject His promises, putting a chasm between us. And as Christians, we feel that deeply.

Jesus was the bridge for the chasm. When He died on the cross, He made it possible for us to be forgiven of everything sinful that we have ever done or will ever do. This shows us the severity of sin. God cannot simply overlook our wrongs; blood had to be shed for them. At the same time, He is too loving for us to be forever separated from Him, which sin leads to. The solution was Jesus' death on the cross. Because He satisfied God's justice, we can receive grace when we come before the Lord with repentant hearts.

When John Newton wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, he truly realized the forgiveness that God had given him. As a former slave trader, Newton knew he had hurt many people. When he became a Christian, he left that profession and became a priest. He knew that Jesus had forgiven him, and his only response was to reflect on the grace that God had shown him… properly calling it amazing.

We are no different from John Newton. We live in the wake of amazing grace, in the forgiveness that is freely given to us even though we could never deserve it. That's how much God loves us.

Dear Lord, thank you for your forgiveness, and for loving me so much. Thank you for the grace that you have shown me through my salvation, and for all of the mercy that you show me each day. In Jesus' name, amen.

Nov 25 2021

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