Forgiveness

Scripture – Mark 2:6-12: ⁶Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralytic, ¹¹“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹²He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Reflection: There’s a difference between forgiving sins and proclaiming the forgiveness of sins. Obviously, I can’t forgive sins. The teachers of the law were right. Only God can do that. However, proclaiming to someone that God has forgiven their sins is great fun and quite empowering.

I’ve know people who live with such a burden of guilt. They’ve convinced themselves that God can’t just forgive their sins. Somehow they’ve got to work things out for themselves. Essentially, they’re trying earn God’s forgiveness.

The fact is, I can never “earn” anything from God. I can never put Him in my debt so He owes me something. In His grace He forgives my sin if I confess to Him. (1 John 1:9) This I can joyfully proclaim to others.

Lord, thank you so much for forgiving my sins. Thank you for your grace in the lives of us all. Remind me to confess and to accept your forgiveness. There’s great freedom in that. Thank you, again!