The Joy of Forgiveness

“Blessed and to be envied,” he said, “are those whose sins are forgiven and put out of sight. Yes, what joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord.”  Romans 4:7–8

My mother was always a great forgiver.

I still remember breaking one of her favorite dishes as a youngster. I went blubbering into the kitchen to tell her, and I could see that she felt every bit of my remorse. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me, and with tears of empathy in her own eyes, she said, “It’s okay, Prissy. I forgive you. Come on. I’ll help you clean up the mess.”

I knew she meant it, and though I still felt badly about what happened, I felt a tremendous amount of joy in knowing my mother had wiped my slate clean. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

It is that way with our Heavenly Father, too. He feels what we feel. He knows the remorse we feel when we sin.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”

When we come before our loving Heavenly Father to ask His forgiveness, He understands, and He wipes our slate clean before Him.

O what joy!

Is there anything you wouldn’t do for Him?

Goodnight, Runners.