Monday, October 11, 2010

FORGIVING OURSELVES

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

The apostle Peter was one of three disciples who walked with Jesus
closer than the other nine. He was the most enthusiastic and the one
man who was willing to step into territories where others would not dare.
He was the first to step out of the boat and walk on water. He wanted to
protect Jesus at times when Jesus rebuked him for having a demon
influence him. He cut off the ear of the guard who wanted to arrest
Jesus in the garden. As Peter matured, the Holy Spirit harnessed his
many extreme emotions.
The greatest trial for Peter was when he denied the Lord just before
Jesus was crucified. Three times he denied knowing Jesus. Jesus
predicted that the cock would crow after the third time just to
reinforce the prophecy to Peter. Peter was crushed when he realized he
had failed His Lord so badly.
The Lord forgave Peter for his denial. However, gaining forgiveness
from Jesus was not the most difficult part for Peter. The hard part was
forgiving himself. As we mature in the faith, we begin moving in
victory after victory with our Lord. Then out of nowhere, an event happens that
reveals our true sin nature, and we are confronted face to face with
this reality. We cannot believe that we are capable of such sin. There
is no good thing in us save the grace of Jesus Christ and His blood
that cleanses us. When God looks at us, He looks at the blood of Christ that
has covered our sin. He does not look at our sin once we confess it.
When we have difficulty forgiving ourselves, this is pride at its
deepest level. We are making an assumption that we should never have
sinned and that we are too mature to sin. This is a trap from the enemy
of our souls. People who cannot forgive do not recognize from what they
have been forgiven. That includes us.

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