You Are Forgiven
I never realized I was viewing God a certain way until I started reading this book called "Be Transformed". In this book, it talks about how God is trustworthy, forgiving, merciful, kind and compassionate. What really got me thinking was the question of... "How do I see God when I have sinned or messed up?" For a while I thought God was disappointed in me when I did something wrong or when I failed. I was shocked to know that this was my view of him but then I came across this story in Luke 15.
This story illustrates a father and his two sons. The younger son tells his father that he wants his share of the estate before he passes, so the father splits the money between his two sons. Once the younger son has the money, he then decides to pack up his things and leave. He spends all his money and begins to starve because a famine occurred. He then asks a nearby farmer for a job (which he ends up getting) but is still hungry to the point where pig food looks good to him. He then thought about back home, how the servants had enough food to spare, so he decides to go back home and see if his father would take him as a hired servant. His father sees him coming and welcomes him with love, compassion, kisses and open arms. His son says "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant." Here is the amazing plot twist of the story...
The father tells one of the servants to bring the finest robe, a ring for his finger, sandals for his feet, and to kill the calf that they have been fattening. The father called for a CELEBRATION because his son was lost and now he is found!!! How amazing is that, see the father in this story as God and the son as you. Regardless of the mistakes and sins we have made...God still loves us unconditionally and will still welcome us back. He doesn't hold any grudges against you and keeps no record of wrong. He is a loving, compassionate, caring, trustworthy, dependable and merciful God. He wants nothing but for you to come back to him...think of it this way Jesus left the ninety-nine just so he can save you!!
You are forgiven...completely forgiven! I don't know your answer to "How do you see God when you sin or mess up?"...but I just want you to know that God is not mad, disappointed, dishonest or distant. He loves you no matter what you have done in your life, he forgives you. He wants you to come back to him...
Fill in the blank with your name... "__________, You are forgiven and I still love you and care for you the same."