Honesty and Forgiveness-Daily New Life

Daily New Life

Honesty and Forgiveness

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. - Romans 8:1

Emotions are a funny thing. We all know what they are, but where do they come from? They seem to flow from the core of your being, from deep down inside. And if you’ve developed the pattern of denying or hiding your feelings, you’ll lose the very sense of who you really are . . . who God created you to be. Don’t believe me? Consider the prophet Jeremiah.  

When you read the Old Testament book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, you’ll see that you have nothing to fear about bringing even your most raw or maybe what you think are embarrassing emotions to God. 

Jeremiah was intensely honest in sharing his broken heart with God. But what follows his grief? When Jeremiah finished his grieving, he turned to God to seek forgiveness. The book ends with a question of remorse: “Are you angry with us still?” the prophet asks. Have you ever asked that question? Behind this question is Jeremiah’s humility, coupled with his hope that God will start the process toward reconciliation and forgiveness. Jeremiah knew God’s heart, so he knew that God would forgive. If you truly repent of your sin, you can be sure that God will forgive you too... no matter how great your sins and failures. You need to come humbly before him and place your life in his strong, gentle hands.

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” 
- Paul Boese (1957-    )

by: Steve Arterburn