PSALM 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

TO PONDER

I once had a friend explain something of the problem of sin to me in a way that made a lot of sense to me at the time, and I still think there is something profound about it.

He said something like this... "The problem with sin and temptation is that we often find ourselves fixating on it. We know we are forgiven and yet we keep thinking to ourselves, "Oh, I must try harder to avoid that sin or keep clear of that temptation." While the intent behind that way of thinking is admirable, it is usually self defeating because it causes all our thinking to be on the sin which we are trying to avoid."

I wonder if you have ever found that to be true. I know I found that extremely helpful at the time. That same friend then posted out to me today's verse from Psalm 103. When our sin is forgiven, God removes it from us completely. We don't need to go back over it, keep making up for it, find more ways to atone for it, in Christ it is completely dealt with and removed from us.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that we don't bother trying to avoid sin. What I'm suggesting that we can do that more effectively by changing our thinking. What if instead of trying to avoid sin, we tried to live more in the light of Jesus saving work on the cross? What if instead of thinking, "how do I avoid lustful thoughts today?" we instead considered, "how do I love like Jesus in all my relationships today?" See the difference? One line of thinking keeps our mind fixated on the sin, sin which God has completely removed from us, it has no place in his mind any more and it should have no place in ours either. The other keeps our mid focussed on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.

It seems to me, both from a logical perspective and the perspective of lived experience, that this small changing in thinking can make a big difference. After all, the Bible tells us this is how God deals with our sin, why would we do it any differently?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that your forgiveness is so complete that you remove the guilt of my sin so completely. please help me to keep my mind focussed on you and all that you have done for me rather than on me and all the things I regularly mess up. Please help me to be more aware of how the reality of your forgiveness in my life has the power to transform and shape me into the likeness of your Son Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle