Adam and Eve knew they were guilty. They tried to hide from God.
The woman taken in adultery knew she was guilty. She lay powerless at the feet of Jesus, Who she knew would find her guilty as charged.
Peter knew he was guilty. He didn’t need a crowing rooster to tell him. He felt it in the pit of his stomach the first time he denied Jesus. If Jesus spoke as Peter did, He would have said, “I don’t know him.”
Judas knew he was guilty. He tried to atone for his sins by trying to reverse what he had put into play. He did not ask for Jesus’ Forgiveness and he could not forgive himself.
The thief on the cross next to Jesus knew he was guilty. Those who had called for his crucifixion knew it too. But in a moment, he knew he was not on just a cross. He was at The Throne of Grace. He asked for Jesus’ Mercy.
Do you feel the weight of guilt for things you have done in your life? You know you are guilty.
Sometimes you feel guilty because no one knows and you have managed to go on and have a good life. No one accuses you but yourself. You know.
There may be others who accused you. Their words from the past still sting. The words of today only add to the charge, “ You are guilty!”
But who is it really who accuses you and condemns you? Who tempts you to run from God instead of running to God to ask forgiveness for your mistakes? Satan.
When you fall, he rises and tries to keep you down by condemning you with shame and fear of punishment. His primary mission is to keep you from surrendering to God and get you to surrender to him.
Jesus was sent into the world with a Mission. His Mission was the opposite of satan’s.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
John 3:17
Jesus had All Power and Authority to judge.
“All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’”
Matthew 28:18
But He chose to use that Power and Authority to forgive, not to condemn.
Jesus can forgive any and all sins by The Power of His Grace and Mercy. But we must be willing to come close and experience His Love and Mercy up close and personal.
And we must fulfill one other condition. We must forgive.
It may be what we consider major offenses we need to forgive. It may be temporary offenses that anger us, like the person who took the parking place we wanted.
But to God, it is the same. He has extended His Grace and Forgiveness to us for all sins. He expects no less from us.
May this week begin a new beginning of extending Grace to everyone you meet. When you feel the urge to say, “But they were wrong,” say, “In The Name of Jesus, I forgive you.”
“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire Mercy.’”
Matthew 9:13
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy!”
Matthew 5:7
