MOVE ON FROM SIN
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12, NIV
Theme: Let go of the guilt: God has truly forgiven and forgotten, so move on!
BLAME AND SHAME
When something goes wrong on the road, with a project, or in following a recipe, I try to figure out what happened so I don’t repeat it! I feel better if I am not to blame. In fact, this afternoon my teenager admitted that she left her P.E. clothes at school in a locker. I just bought those shorts. My first thought is “Whose fault is this and what natural consequence should apply?” My girl often forgets mundane things. Conversely, she retains and understands exceedingly complicated things. This is a dichotomy that annoys me, even considering she likely doesn’t do either on purpose. I remember her previously misplaced items, even though I have tried to forgive her for them. Remembering past mistakes makes each new infraction seem more significant when added. After a while, she feels shame because of her weakness and my harsh opinion of it.
FIX IT AND FORGET IT
My daughter would like a ride to school tomorrow in order to get to the gym and recover her shorts. I haven’t decided if I can do that or not. What I can do is keep the problem the size that it is – one pair of $5 P.E. shorts. God doesn’t remember all my past mistakes and combine them when he sees me. He literally forgives, justifies, pays and never brings it up again. “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, ESV). God casts them into the bottomless abyss. I am the one who relives and recounts my failures (and others’ failures). Why?
“MOVING RIGHT ALONG”
My father-in-law frequently says, “Moving right along.” Whenever he wants to change the subject, whenever he detects some disunity among siblings or spouses, he says, “Moving right along.” He says, "Moving right along” when the subject of politics comes up. I used to be annoyed by it as a dismissal or avoidance of having hard conversations. I’m coming to see “moving right along” as a helpful phrase that acknowledges a difficulty and seeks to move forward peacefully anyway.
“All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord” (Exodus 17:1a, ESV). The Israelites, who had been traveling through the desert, moved on from the wilderness of sin at the command of the Lord. The sins they were leaving behind included: disobeying God’s instructions regarding manna, doubting God and complaining after crossing the Red Sea. They complained about not having meat and they got quail along with the consequences for their sin. When they came to the end of the wilderness to the promised land, they moved on. When I try to stay in sin (my own or others’), God sounds a lot like my father-in-law as he urges me to move along. “Moving right along,” indeed.
FIXED
I did, in fact, drive the girls to middle school this morning. The P.E. clothes were recovered. Thanks were expressed. With God’s help, I’ll move on and not even think or talk about it again.
Make it Personal: What guilt has a hold on you? What blame or shame might you be putting on others? Release and forgive! It is time to get moving.
Pray: God, thank you for really forgiving me. You don’t sort of forgive. You have fully forgiven, paid, and blotted out any memory of my mistakes. You don’t see my shortcomings when you see me. I am so thankful for your perspective, power, and instruction to move on. You are the only one who can set me free, and you have! Help me to follow your example, overlook shortcomings and “forget” mistakes. Hallelujah in Jesus’ name, amen.
Read: John 1:29; Exodus 17:1; Micah 7:18-19
Weekly Memory Verse: “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” Proverbs 24:16, ESV