I have these moments and I wonder if others do as well. I become aware of my sin and wonder,… do I hide from God and deny them… or do I run to Him and confess, knowing that when I agree with God, He is just and righteous to forgive and cleanse (in essence He says “te absolvo”). The Christians life is certainly an interesting one… wherein we are fully aware (perhaps more than the average person) of our sinfulness and shortcomings. Yet, we are equally free from the guilt and shame and live as being fully accepted by our Holy God. This indeed is curious. When Jesus was presented the paralytic on a pallet (my alliteration). The paralytic could neither hide from Jesus, nor proactively present himself- but his friends brought him. There before the son of man and the Son of God, he hears the words- son, your sins are forgiven. Wow! In a flash of a moment, the guilt and shame of all sins past, present, and future absolved. How wonderful that must have been. That same reality is available to each of us today.
And Jesus, seeing their faith, *said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” Mark 2:5-7 NASB
Who in my circle of friends could use a visit today for encouragement? How has the forgiveness of God produced joy and devotion in me?
God, as this day begins- I am praying for my friend Lila. I know she is physically in pain. I pray as I invite myself to her house and pray for her that she will be built up in her holy faith. May You do a miracle of healing in her as a sign of Your great affection. P.s. I love the picture above because it reminds us that He invites us into fellowship once the sin has been dealt with.
