As I was gazing out upon the vastness of beautiful, calm Lake Ontario, feeling oneness with the gentle, rolling waves, I happened to read a related Scripture verse.
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. –Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)
God is so great and loves us all so much. Even when we, like Israel from this Scripture, grumble, complain, and get angry with God, He does not remain angry with us. Instead, God lavishes us with His mercy and compassion. I could envision God stomping on, and then hurling the evil we do out into the depths of the water. The vastness of the water lets us know God remembers our sins no more. The gentle waves reminded me of His compassion and mercy washing over us. Our incredible God is willing to grant us His forgiveness.
God’s mercy and forgiveness are beautiful gifts of His grace in our lives. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and repent of our sins, grace becomes a part of our lives. God sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world to die for our sins.
Since we are made in God’s image, we also have the responsibility to extend His mercy, compassion, and grace to others, especially those who have sinned against us. He has buried the sins in the depths of the sea and completely forgiven us. Can we do the same?
What are some verses of encouragement for us to forgive others?
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. –Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, encourages them and us to live as God’s chosen people. Our lives should emulate God’s compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love, which unite us all. He specifically reminds us to forgive those who trespass against us in the same way that God forgives us.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. –Ephesians 4:32-5:2 (NLT)
Paul is reminding the Christians in Ephesus and us how to live: being kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, and loving in the same way that Christ modeled. Once again, he emphasizes how God, by sending Jesus to suffer and die for our sins, has forgiven them. Christ sacrificed His very life to set us free; it was a mighty act of unconditional love that we need to share with others.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” –Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
In this Scripture, Peter, one of Jesus’ original disciples, was ready to forgive others who have wronged him up to seven times. Jesus’ response of not seven but seventy-seven times shows to what lengths He goes to forgive us. We need to extend that same sincerity of love and forgiveness from our hearts to others as we try to imitate what we have received from God.
Photo courtesy of Church Iglesia under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)
Be encouraged this week to…
…live sincerely knowing God has hurled your sins into the depths of the sea.
…forgive others as God has forgiven you.
…let your life be your offering of sacrifice to God.
…ask for help to forgive others sincerely from your heart.
REFLECTION:
Who has hurt you that you need to forgive with God’s grace?
Do you need to be more like God and remember no more the wrong you did once you repented?
“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” –Isaiah 44:22 (NLT)
