BE-Gratitudes: 30 Days of Positive Attitudes – FORGIVEN
November 26th, 2021
Day Twenty-Six: Forgiven
John 3:16-17, ‘For here is the way God loved the world—He gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!’ (TPT)
I am so very grateful, God, that You forgave me.
There are so many things I am grateful for in this life but being forgiven by a Holy God is by far the most crucial, substantial. I didn’t know You could see me, that You were overseeing my life the way I once did my own children, often invisibly, at a distance, from afar, always intent. You knew the struggles I would have while I was making my way to You. My name was on Your lips as You died so I could live; You wrote my forgiveness in Your blood. Like a canceled debt, You tore up the sheet of charges against me and took my place in that execution chair. I don’t think I would do for anyone else what You did for me. Step up to take someone else’s life sentence and death sentence all at the same hearing, knowing You’d watch me walk away while You stood, stepped forward, stripped, put Your arms out to take my chains, drew Your last breath while I drew my first.
It wasn’t only that, however. It was the Blackest Friday the world had ever seen. Because my choices rested on Your back, God the Father turned away from God the Son. I can’t fathom what that would be like. I hope I never have to question turning my back on my son, but that reminds me about the unconditional love that You gave to me. You gave to me because of Your son’s willingness to take my place. I say there is nothing my son could do that would cause me to turn away and I believe the intent of my heart. But Holy God had to have a penalty paid for my sinfulness, and Jesus said, “Why not Me?” And because of His offering, You accepted Him in place of me, causing You to turn Your back on Him to face me. You did for me to Your Son what I could not do to my son for anyone, likely including You.
I am so very grateful, God, that You forgave me.
What about you? Do you know you are fully forgiven too?
