“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
– Romans 8:1
Forgiving others can be difficult at times, but it’s something every Christian seeks to do. We are told by our Lord to forgive, and it is important for that reason, so we make deliberate efforts not to harbour ill will against those who cause us injury or grief. But despite the struggle to fulfill this command we often fail to forgive a person crucial to our walk of faith.
We often fail to forgive ourselves.
“I wish I had never…!” “If only I could change that!” “How can you possibly forgive me?!” Sound familiar? We have a tendency as fleshly, worldly thinking persons to glorify our failures as greater than those of others. We exaggerate them to the point that we are continually groaning and chastising ourselves for our failure – always punishing ourselves and condemning ourselves. If left unchallenged we can judge ourselves as always a failure, and therefore giving us the excuse we need to fail again and again. Also sound familiar?
Here is what Jesus specifically asked God the Father about you and me:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
– John 17:20-21
Did the Father say no? Of course not. So we are one with Jesus, and that means…
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
– Galatians 3:26
You are a son, or daughter, of God! How? Through faith – you’ve settled the issue in the truth. You have decided your value is determined by God, not you, and you practice that daily. But maybe you don’t feel like you’re His – that’s okay. We all experience those feelings, but all those feelings are is an indicator that you have experienced a lie. You’ve reacted to the suggestion that you are a failure and do not belong to Christ. Say thank you to the feeling for letting you know, tell the lie to begone, and practice the truth that you are a child of God – always!
“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:20
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:38-39
How do you practice the truth? Refuse to act like a failure. Instead act like someone who is accepted and loved by God because that was His unswerving choice. He knows you inside and out, including your shortcomings and failings, and He still does not change His choice. Instead He deliberately continues to work in you – without blaming or condemnation. Act loved – because you are.
