A Clean Slate
READ: Micah 7:18-20
“Well, since I’m a nice guy, I’ll let you go with just a warning, but next time you’ll receive a ticket,” says the judge. This was a relief for the seventeen-year-old caught speeding. He was probably very grateful for having such a forgiving judge. Not everyone would have let him go with just a warning, especially when he was going thirty miles over the speed limit!!
It’s true! Most people you come into contact with in life won’t be that kind and forgiving. Fortunately, we have a God who is. The prophet Micah talks about this very same thing when he says, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever, but delight in mercy.” Our God is a forgiving and merciful God. Because of what Jesus did, we need not worry about our past, present or even future sins. He has forgiven each and every one of them.
Even though we cannot be sure that we’ll ever receive an earthly judge as forgiving as the one I mentioned earlier, we can be sure that the judge of all mankind is even more forgiving. He doesn’t see the speeding tickets on our records or even the warnings. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, our record is a clean slate in God's eyes.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How is God similar to and different from an earthly judge? How can we show mercy and forgiveness to others in our daily lives? How can we demonstrate our thanks to God for His undeserved compassion and forgiveness?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Thank God for His infinite mercy and forgiveness. Ask God to help you show forgiveness to others. Pray for those whom you have difficulty showing forgiveness towards.