Sin, Forgiveness and God, by Michael Podhaczky

Whether we will admit it or not, every person sins every day, in some way or another. We all have those times when we behave from pride instead of humility or we may kill someone with our words or thoughts, instead of encouraging them or preferring them. We get jealous of what others have or have achieved, instead of celebrating with them or for them. I could go on here, but I think we get the point.

Not everyone knows how to deal with this sin. Some people may feel guilty or ashamed. While others deny there is anything wrong with what they are doing or the way that they are living.  Some will compare themself with the way’s others live and conclude that they are not as bad as them.

For many, the remedy for this is to try to be a better person; others do whatever they what regardless of the consequences and who has to pay for the mess. Some are aware that they need help to deal with what they do and continues to do. They turn to God for His intervention and help. They understand that they need His forgiveness before they can forgive themselves and ask those that they have hurt to forgive them.

Whether we can except it or not, God has forgiven us. He is still willing to forgive us for our sin. As John said in his first letter,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9 NASB).

 Wherever we are on this spectrum of sin, God has made way for us to be forgiven. That is through the person and work of Jesus Christ. God’s forgiveness is much bigger than any of our sins. It has been said that a Hassidic Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev once prayed to God,

“Lord of the universe, I want to propose a deal. We have many sins. You have much forgiveness. Let us exchange our sins for Your forgiveness. And if You should say that this is not a fair exchange, then my reply is: If we had no sins, what would You do with all Your forgiveness?”[1]

Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…

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[1] Rabbi Sacks, Jonathan. “Ki Tisa (5768) – A Stiff-Necked People.” https://rabbisacks.org/covenant-conversation-5768-ki-tisa-a-stiff-necked-people/ (6^th August 2020).