“Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. (Psalm 103:12)
“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
Are you forgiven? Like good Sunday School students across the world, we
are likely to sing and otherwise proclaim, “Yes! I’m forgiven!” And I’m not
suggesting in the least that you or I aren’t forgiven. Today’s focus is on
gratitude, not forgiveness. But gratitude would include thankfulness for forgiveness.
So, you are forgiven. Are you thankful?
Years ago, my grandmother’s
death provided me with a small inheritance, which I promptly used to pay off the
debt on my car. At the time, I was quite grateful to be able to do that – then.
Now, while it was nice, it’s not something that influences my life. Other
things are nearer, bigger, and have more influence in my life.
The same can be said of
forgiveness for my sins. It’s there and I’m grateful, but I don’t seem to think
of it in a current, weighty way. In one sense, this should be expected. If God
removes our wrongdoings from us, they shouldn’t haunt us – though I’m one of
those who seems to regularly be stabbed by things either wrong or embarrassing that
were done in the past. I’m also one of those goody-two-shoes who basically
never drank, never smoked, almost never used what others call foul language, etc.
I seem to be in the category of those who have been forgiven little.
Sometimes, I’m almost envious
of those who have dramatic conversions, who go from stoned sensualist criminal
to saint, who has fought some great battle against some big sin. But none of
this matters, because it is all based on a misunderstanding of what sin is. Even
if we know better, we still think that some sins are insignificant, while
others are big deals. The reality is that all sin and each sin is treason. If we
really saw it that way, we might have more gratitude.
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