“I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you.” (Isaiah 43:25, GNT)
Because of God’s grace, you are forgivable. Yes, you sin and make mistakes — sometimes really big ones. But God is always ready to forgive you.
The Bible says, “I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you” (Isaiah 43:25. GNT).
I want you to see two things in that verse. One, God doesn’t forgive your sins because you deserve it; He forgives because of who He is. Two, God “will not hold your sins against you.” In other words, He doesn’t carry grudges.
Those truths may be hard for you to believe! Many people think of God like an unpleasable parent — someone who’s always saying things like, “That’s not good enough” or “You blew it again.” But that’s not who God is. Instead of condemning you, God forgives you and covers you with His love.
The Living Bible paraphrase says it like this: “Long ago, even before He made the world, God chose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us; He decided then to make us holy in His eyes, without a single fault — we who stand before Him covered with His love” (Ephesians 1:4).
When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for all of your sins — the ones you’ve already committed and the ones you haven’t even thought of yet. He’s paid for every single one of them. And because of that, you don’t have to pay for them. Your sins are covered with His love.
Ponderings:
- When has someone held a grudge against you? How did that feel?
- How does it feel to know that God forgives you and never holds a grudge?
- Is there someone you’re holding a grudge against? Would you pray now and ask God to help you forgive them, just as He has forgiven you?
Prayer
Father, I thank You for Your forgiveness which You give, in grace and mercy, through Your gift of salvation. Help me to forgive others in the same way, showing them the same love You have offered, so that they see that You offer Your mercy and grace to them as well.
Pray, praise, give thanks, and stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
