Word@Work Luke177 - Luke 11:4a
Published: Thu, 08/26/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
GETTING CLEAN
Luke 11:4a Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. (NIV)
The biggest problem for human beings is sin. It is rooted into our nature; it corrupts our hearts, distorts our decisions and defaces the image of God in us. Our greatest need is to be freed from the weight and burden of sin so that we can worship and serve the God of glory. However, we cannot do it ourselves because the debt of sin can only be discharged by the person we have offended - God Himself. But the wonder of the gospel is that God is willing to forgive all those who confess their sin and ask Him to make them clean.
Jesus, who told the disciples to ask for forgiveness, knew that His own death would be the substitute sacrifice for every sinner; and so that all those who come to Him in repentance and faith can be certain of being forgiven (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to know more). God's Word assures us that penitents can be certain of His cleansing, and so to ask for forgiveness is an expression of faith - that God will keep His Word. Of course those who know the immensity of God's forgiveness should also forgive those who offend them: that is a witness to our faith that if God does not hold anything against us, we should not hold grudges against others.
Forgiveness is the point at which grace, mercy and faith meet with the cross of Jesus. To receive forgiveness we must believe in the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, and be willing to confess the sin which led Him to die for us. It is an act of honest confession to admit our wrong to God, and an act of faith to believe that His sacrifice atones for our sin. It is also an act of faith, as well as witness, to forgive others. Such major choices surely need the work of the Holy Spirit to give us the conviction that they are necessary and the assurance that the Lord's purposes will be worked out through them. So today is a good day to confess our sins and ask to be made clean, because 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Prayer: Holy God. I am so grateful that You want to forgive me and have already provided the way through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Please forgive me for the times I have presumed on Your cleansing although have not confessed my sin. Today, I want to confess my sinfulness and, once again, ask You to forgive me the wrong thoughts, words and actions which have so greatly grieved You. I believe Your Word that You will cleanse my heart. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The biggest problem for human beings is sin. It is rooted into our nature; it corrupts our hearts, distorts our decisions and defaces the image of God in us. Our greatest need is to be freed from the weight and burden of sin so that we can worship and serve the God of glory. However, we cannot do it ourselves because the debt of sin can only be discharged by the person we have offended - God Himself. But the wonder of the gospel is that God is willing to forgive all those who confess their sin and ask Him to make them clean.
Jesus, who told the disciples to ask for forgiveness, knew that His own death would be the substitute sacrifice for every sinner; and so that all those who come to Him in repentance and faith can be certain of being forgiven (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to know more). God's Word assures us that penitents can be certain of His cleansing, and so to ask for forgiveness is an expression of faith - that God will keep His Word. Of course those who know the immensity of God's forgiveness should also forgive those who offend them: that is a witness to our faith that if God does not hold anything against us, we should not hold grudges against others.
Forgiveness is the point at which grace, mercy and faith meet with the cross of Jesus. To receive forgiveness we must believe in the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, and be willing to confess the sin which led Him to die for us. It is an act of honest confession to admit our wrong to God, and an act of faith to believe that His sacrifice atones for our sin. It is also an act of faith, as well as witness, to forgive others. Such major choices surely need the work of the Holy Spirit to give us the conviction that they are necessary and the assurance that the Lord's purposes will be worked out through them. So today is a good day to confess our sins and ask to be made clean, because 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Prayer: Holy God. I am so grateful that You want to forgive me and have already provided the way through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Please forgive me for the times I have presumed on Your cleansing although have not confessed my sin. Today, I want to confess my sinfulness and, once again, ask You to forgive me the wrong thoughts, words and actions which have so greatly grieved You. I believe Your Word that You will cleanse my heart. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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