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God gets rid of your sins forever. That's both freeing and hard to believe. How can God forgive you when you've done such terrible things? He forgives because he loves you. You matter more than anything you've done or refused to do. God's forgiveness says more about him than about what you've done. God forgives so you can make loving decisions from this point forward. He forgives to free you to do the good he wants you to do. He then equips you to make those good choices.

Receive God's forgiveness not because you deserve it, but because you need it. Obey God not because you'll lose his love without obedience, but because you want to please the One who loves you.

Even though God gets rid of your sins forever, people might not forget. That's the rough and painful part. But before you write off the person who's angry with you, see things from that person's viewpoint. Perhaps you broke a treasured trust. Tell him how you feel: "I've let you down. I'd be really upset with me if I were you. Please know I don't take this lightly. Let's work together to heal this. You're important to me." Then find a way to show that your repentance has led to changed behavior. It takes time to rebuild trust, but do right consistently—no matter how long it takes. (See also Joel 2:12-17; Jonah 2; 3; Zechariah 10:6-12; Luke 7:36-50; Galatians 1:11-24.)

Good Words to Remember:
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? … You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18, 19

Today's Challenge:
In what ways do you need to stop living in the past and move into the present?

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

Bible Studies to Help You Go Deeper