Unusual God - Part 2 [Devo]

Going Deeper | Unusual God - Part 2
Forgiveness
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This past Sunday, Pastor Tim continued our series Unusual God by talking about God’s forgiveness. He shared how we, as humans, are in desperate need of God’s forgiveness because of our sinful nature. God’s solution to the problem of our sinfulness was sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to Earth so that He could live the sinless life that we couldn’t live and die the death that we deserved to die. Then He rose from the grave to prove that He was, in fact, who He said He was. God accepted Jesus’ payment on our behalf.

God has made a way for us to be forgiven, to be declared innocent. The way in which we receive this forgiveness from God is by placing our trust in Jesus… in who He is and what He did for us. When we do that, we are covered by Christ’s forgiveness. And when God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin and brokenness, but rather the righteousness that comes from Jesus. We are marked innocent, free, and we’re new creations.

I believe this truth with everything I am; however, I don’t always feel that I am innocent and blameless, even though I know in my head that what I just shared is true. God created us, which means he also created our emotions. So when our emotions are telling us something that we know isn't true, i.e., “You aren’t righteous…think of all the ways you have failed,” we must rely on our knowledge of who God is and what He has declared about us. In particular, that we are forgiven. For me, I turn to scriptures like Romans 8:31-34 to be reminded of the truth of the matter:

“What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”

So in those times when you don’t feel forgiven, when you don’t feel loved, and when you don’t feel that what God says about you is true — turn to texts like these and be reminded that no one can bring a charge against you. God is the ultimate authority. He is the one who justifies. Turn your eyes back to the cross, where God proved His love for you by justifying you through the sacrifice of His Son, and rest in His forgiveness.

Author: Andrew Archer, Student Ministry Director