Merciful, Forgiving Nature of God

Hebrews 8:10,12 ESV
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

As a child I saw God as a judgmental God. That was because in the Pentecostal church I grew up in, God was portrayed as the God that was watching our every move and we had not better mess up or we will be left behind. So, as you can imagine, a bunch of us got saved every Sunday, out of fear.

When I started reading the Bible at about 11 or 12, I saw God as a powerful God but not an angry vengeful God any more. In my teens and twenties I saw God as a forgiving God, because I needed that in my life. I have kept that image of God in my life because it helps to know of His mercy and grace.

David, in one of the most heart wrenching times of his life, when he sinned greatly said; “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…” (psalms 51:1-4 ESV) David received the grace and mercy that he sought.

God says that He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west. Just in case you were wondering, that is so far we can never grasp the distance. (Psalms 103:12) 1 John 1:9 ESV says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayer:
Father, thank you for forgiving all my sins past, present and future because of the blood sacrifice, the Spotless Lamb, Your Son. He paid a debt I can never repay, but I give You my life.