Forgiveness ( 3 )...‘…could never have made it apart from…mercy.’ 1 Timothy 1:15-17 TM

If you’re finding it hard to forgive yourself for something you’ve done in the past, it may be that you’re reaping what you have sown. And it’s particularly hard (but not impossible) to keep from feeling bad when you’ve condemned somebody else for doing the same thing. Here’s a scriptural truth you need to understand, accept and live by: as long as you’re alive you will have to keep forgiving yourself and others! When guilt and condemnation tell you your sins are too big for God’s forgiveness, remember what Paul said: ‘Jesus…came…to save sinners. I’m proof – Public Sinner Number One …someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy…evidence of his endless patience.’ Before his conversion Paul persecuted the church, killing and torturing believers. It’s how he made his living! And if he could learn to forgive himself, you can too! In fact, when you don’t you’re implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God’s grace to forgive and Jesus’ blood to cleanse. And that’s a bigger sin – pride! Plus, when somebody always has ‘issues’ with other people, they may be looking for somebody to offend them; that way they can point out how bad the other person is and feel better about themselves. Pride and a judgmental attitude feed off each other the way humility feeds off forgiveness. God said, ‘I am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake. And I will not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NASB). When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself the way God has, it’s a lot easier to overlook other people’s mistakes. Give it a try; you’ll be amazed!