Have you ever said, former procrastinators, “I can’t forgive myself”? We’ve asked the other person’s forgiveness, but have trouble letting go of the fact that we did wrong.
Is that it? Accepting that I did wrong? I’m not always right. I, too, hurt other people. Sometimes I’m not aware, but when I am, it’s embarrassing. Face it, I’m a needy human.
Our pastor says we need to repent of our righteousness – repent of our reliance on being and doing right as our grounds for acceptance before God. Actually, we have no righteousness but Christ’s. Without His blood, we have no grounds for acceptance by God. We all need cleaning up continually. I need that.
In Luke 7, a woman wept at Jesus’s feet, wiping His feet with her tears and hair and pouring on ointment. Jesus’s Pharisee host silently objected because the woman was a sinner. Jesus asked, a moneylender cancels the debts of two men, one for 500, one for 50. Who will love him more? Yes, the one with the larger debt. Jesus explained this woman loves much for she was forgiven much.
He said, “But he who is forgiven little loves little.”
Oh, God, how dare I think there’s little in me to forgive! What puny love I have for you! Impress upon me that I have been forgiven much! The dirt I see in me is filthier than I think. And You see dirt I do not see. Wash me clean! Help me realize my desperate need for your forgiveness and love you much.
A friend says we forgive ourselves when we claim 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Is it a wrong view of our righteousness that makes it hard to forgive ourselves? Someone asked, if you have trouble forgiving yourself, do you think you have higher standards than the Holy God?
Self-righteousness is a heavy weight. Without delay, let’s lay it aside. Humbly accept our neediness before God and accept His righteousness for us. He enables us to forgive. He enables us to live free and love.
What have you had a hard time forgiving yourself for?
Spot on Beth. Thank you for continuing to confront with God’s truth. Keep doing what needs doing!
Thank you, Lynn. Honestly, I didn’t know this post would come out as it did. I needed it. Praise God for His mercy.