Walking as Forgiven

In baseball, a batter can get a hit three out of ten times and be considered successful. A football quarterback can complete six of ten passes and be considered accomplished. It was cause for rejoicing when Shaq made five of ten free throws. Yet at times, we beat ourselves up because we failed when we fall short of perfection. One of the verses that I love to meditate upon is I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I often think of the beginning of the verse, “If we confess our sins….” God did not say that “if we sin…” The implication is that we will sin; the conditional thought is whether or not we will confess it. That does not give us excuse to sin (see Paul’s comments in Romans 6). God knows us well and He knows that we will not be perfect; what He wants is a heart that realizes sin and its effect and is willing to acknowledge the result of sin and ask Him for forgiveness. We should strive for perfect obedience; sin should cause us to humbly go to God and ask forgiveness.

Another thought that comes to mind when thinking of I John 1:9 is this: How do I think of others when they sin? If I want God to accept me even in my imperfection, then I should be willing to accept others even with their shortcomings. Ephesians 4:32 says that I be forgiving, even as God is forgiving to me. As God has been kind, gracious, and forgiving to me, so should I be toward others. If I am to rightly reflect my God to those around me, I must do so at all times, in all places, toward all people. God’s love is given without discrimination, showing a pattern for my life. I should be indiscriminate in my love to those around me, even when they fail my expectations. If Christ could offer forgiveness to others even as He was hanging on the cross, there should be no reason that I cannot forgive someone else.

As I go through the coming days, months, and years, may I rightly reflect Jesus Christ by accepting others even with their faults and offering unconditional forgiveness. After all, what good is love without forgiveness; on one would be worthy of the love. Nothing anyone would do to me will measure up to what I have done to God through my sin. If I am to be involved in intercessory prayer, I must love and forgive others as my God has loved and forgiven me.

Enjoy, and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!