K. S. Leuty - Our Daily Bread: Forgiveness

By K. S. Leuty

Copyright 2012 K. S. Leuty

Smashwords Edition

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The other day I was watching my young sonsplay with their train set. The train engine was loaded with freshbatteries and it zipped around the track at top speed. Then theboys began linking additional train cars behind the engine. Thetrain cars didn't weigh that much by themselves, but the cumulativeeffect on the train's engine took its toll. One by one, the morethey added, the slower the train went. Eventually they added somany cars that the train struggled to get up a small incline thatpreviously had been no problem at all.

Some people live their lives like that,storing up years of guilt and bitterness that weigh down theirspirits. I've known people who are still mad about things thathappened to them decades ago. For some reason they just can't letit go. In a similar fashion, others are burdened with feelings ofremorse that have never healed. Both of these things can sap aperson's energy and happiness. This book is about shedding all ofthat excess spiritual baggage and beginning a new and better life.The first step is recognizing that you need forgiveness from Godand from those you have offended. You have to get rid of the guiltbefore you can get rid of the bitterness.

Asking for forgiveness is a very humblingexperience. And it should be. Whether you are praying for God'sforgiveness or asking another person for it, it involves bearingyour soul through honest confession and repentance. True repentancemeans changing the way that you do things in the future.

As humans, we all make mistakes and do or saythings from time to time that hurt others. The inevitableconsequence for those who know they have done wrong is guilt. Manymay try to simply ignore or bury the feeling. Others try tominimize it through justification. These efforts might providetemporary relief, but they don't really solve the problem. Thesubconscious mind has a strange way of remembering and remindingyou of your past transgressions.

Over time feelings of guilt can fester andmultiply in the shadows of the mind. It's sort of like that blackmold that grows in the dark, damp corners of your bathroom. If leftuntreated it can eventually rot a person from the inside out. EdgarAllan Poe wrote a masterful short story called TheTell-Tale Heart in 1843 that perfectly illustrates thisnotion. In Poe's story the main character has killed a man and ishaunted by what he imagines is the sound of his victim's heartbeating through the floorboards. Knowing that the victim is buriedunder the house, the thump-thump-thumping sound eventually drivesthe man mad and he confesses his crime to the police. This is anextreme example, but the effect is still the same.

The good news is that you don't have to livewith guilt constantly tapping you on the shoulder or withbitterness behind your eyes. God has provided a remedy. It issimple and guaranteed if you are willing. He stands ready to wipethe slate clean and remove your guilt and bitterness through theprecious blood of Jesus Christ.

One thing you should realize is that Godknows our hearts and minds better than we know them ourselves. Anyattempt at false contrition is futile. If you choose to ask theLord for forgiveness, your motives must be pure and your confessionmust be sincere.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Aman reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7

If your heart is humble, and your spirit ishungry, then you are ready to proceed. First things first. You mustbecome a Child of God.

Forgiveness from God is a gift that isgranted specifically to those who have accepted Jesus Christ astheir Lord and Savior. This means that you must believe what theBible says about the identity of Jesus. He was and is the Son ofGod. It is through Him that forgiveness is obtained. Scripture isquite clear on this point and it is mentioned repeatedly.

"For this is My blood of the covenant, whichis poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew26:28

For God so loved the world, that He gavehis only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish buthave eternal life." John 3:16

"For the wages of sin is death, but the freegift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans6:23

"And now why do you wait? Rise and bebaptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name." Acts22:16

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful andjust to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from allunrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

"But God shows His love for us in that whilewe were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers,that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you"Acts 13:38

"And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus,and you will be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31

"To Him all the prophets bear witness thateveryone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins throughHis name. Acts 10:43

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, hewill be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." John10:9

"And the prayer of faith will save the onewho is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he hascommitted sins, he will be forgiven." James 5:15

"But that you may know that the Son of Manhas authority on Earth to forgive sinsHe then said to theparalyticRise, pick up your bed and go home. And he rose and wenthome. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorifiedGod, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:6-8

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees namedNicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night andsaid to Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God,for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BornAgain he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him,How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second timeinto his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly,I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannotenter the kingdom of God." John 3:1-6

"And Peter said to them, Repent and bebaptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for theforgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the HolySpirit." Acts 2:38

"Jesus answered, I am the way and the truthand the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John14:6

When I was about 7 years old, I watched asermon by the Reverend Billy Graham on television. At the end ofthe sermon he invited people forward to receive Jesus into theirhearts. Since I was in my living room and not physically in theaudience, I walked forward to the television and repeated theSinner's Prayer that Reverend Graham shared with the crowd. Thatwas in the early 1970's. This is the Sinner's Prayer that appearsin 2012 on Billy Graham's website:

Lord JesusChrist,

I am sorry for thethings I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness and nowturn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank you for dying onthe Cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into mylife and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with meforever.