I have a tendency to say, “I’m sorry.” A lot. Most of the time for little things, like inattention to the ramifications of small actions, or failure to keep my eye on the calendar. But this tendency to say, “I’m sorry” is not always the same thing as seeking forgiveness. sometimes it is an attempt to avoid responsibility, to be “let off the hook”. This is essentially a recognition that you have hurt someone without an intention to change.
We need to move from feelings of remorse to words and actions that seek forgiveness!
So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.
If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
1 John 1:6-101 John 1:6-10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
6 If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. 7 But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away. 8 If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. 9 But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts. b and his message isn't in our hearts: Or “because we have not accepted his message.”
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A good place to begin is realizing that we all sin. With the Spirit in our hearts, we feel a compulsion to change, to do something to address the issue. We can dull our senses to this, but if we are going to follow Christ, we need to pay close attention. Sin is serious business. It hinders our relationship with God, affecting our ability to be forgiven. Sin can devastate relationships, especially when it is allowed to grow unchecked.
So we all sin. But why seek forgiveness? Why not just realize we are sinners and move on? We don’t need to actually make others aware of our sin, right? This kind of attitude is contrary to the heart of God. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17Psalm 51:17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17 The way to please you
is to feel sorrow
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
WP-Bible plugin). Psalm 51 is one of the best examples of a man moved by the weight of his own sin. David cries out to God, having already confessed to Nathan.
Let’s look at some reasons to seek forgiveness:
- Often sin is pointed out to us. Denial is the wrong response. Admission and seeking forgiveness show that we recognize that we ave harmed another by our words or actions.
- Seeking forgiveness shows we are humble and aware of our imperfection.
- Seeking forgiveness shows that God is at work in our hearts – changing us.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight (Psalm 51:4Psalm 51:4
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
4 . You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.
WP-Bible plugin). We hurt others. We sin against God. For both we need to ask forgiveness. While our actions and words have a weight and impact on others, they are not the only grieved party. God is moved by our sin because it goes against his nature and harms his children. When we ask for forgiveness from those we have hurt, without asking for forgiveness from God, we short-change our ability to truly stop the sin we asked forgiveness for.
But sometimes it seems easier to ask God for forgiveness and leave it at that. We just assume the other party will get over it. Or we avoid dealing with it because we know it will be difficult. This approach seems easier, less difficult. But to be honest, if we ask forgiveness from God without seeking it from those we have hurt, our request to God was probably a sham. We are probably taking advantage of a false-image of God we have constructed, a view of God that belittles him and what he has done for us.
Forgiveness is a good starting place as we try to restore severed relationships. We can’t get much further if we are not willing to accept that we have sinned. We can’t move to repentance. We can’t restore trust. Without forgiveness, we often shackle ourselves and those we have harmed together – unable to forget, unable to move on.
Today, ask God to reveal if there is someone who you need to seek forgiveness from. Have you been short and demanding? Have you acted out of arrogance, wounding someone in the process? Have you lied to someone, violating trust? Whatever it is, offer it to God and consider how he can use it. Then seek out the person and be real with them about your failure.
My hands have made both heaven and earth, and they are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
Isaiah 66:2Isaiah 66:2
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
2 I have made everything; that's how it all came to be. v that's ... be: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. I, the Lord, have spoken. The people I treasure most are the humble— they depend only on me and tremble when I speak.
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