Forgiven

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Some time ago, my pastor asked this question in one of his sermons: “How would you live if you knew—without a shadow of a doubt—that you are forgiven?”

That question struck me as a challenge. What would the life lived in the full knowledge of forgiveness look like?

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I envisioned that life, and realized that I live with so many needless fears and insecurities. 

When I fear to ask God’s forgiveness one more time (as if He could grow tired of my failures), I could be praising Him for making His forgiveness possible.

When I bathe myself in self-inflicted shame because I don’t feel adequately remorseful for my sin, I could be shoving my sin behind me with the confidence that it is no longer powerful in my life—Christ has conquered.

When I do good in trembling hope of pleasing the God that I am constantly failing, I could be doing good out of genuine delight in Him.

Fear should not live in me. I am forgiven.

Shame should not live in me. I am forgiven.

Insecurity should not live in me. I am forgiven.

How would you live if you were convinced that you are forgiven?