YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Tuesday 13th August 2024
“But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared.’’ Psalm 130:4 (KJV)
It is God’s forgiveness that causes us to fear Him. It is not His judgment. This sounds contradictory. I thought that you take people for granted when they easily forgive. I thought that it was the man with the cane that is feared and not the one with a heart of love. You see when you understand the true love of God, then you will understand the power of the love that keeps you from sin.
In John chapter 8, we are told that a woman caught in adultery received forgiveness and was offered the gift of no condemnation from Jesus. I guarantee you that the woman left feeling relieved, and she most likely held the Lord in awe throughout her life. She knew the law against adultery and expected to be stoned to death. I can imagine her eyes closed, expecting the first stone to land on her head, but nothing happened. Rather, what she heard was the voice of the Master asking, ‘’Woman where are thine accusers? I am sure that woman had died several times in her head because she expected the stoning and not forgiveness.
Beloved, the love of God reached out to that woman caught in adultery, and she was forgiven. She could never understand how she was delivered from sudden and untimely death. That is grace at work. The good news is that Jesus has already paid the supreme sacrifice that could ever be paid for all your sins. He died, went to hell, defeated the devil, and was raised triumphantly on the third day in power and glory. Our Father poured out His entire wrath on His only begotten Son. He has no more wrath to pour on you. When Jesus died, He said, ‘IT IS FINISHED’. The devil no longer has the power to condemn you. You are free and free indeed. All you need do is to appropriate the love of God and receive the gift of righteousness by faith. You may not feel forgiven. But the truth is that you have been forgiven.
Further Reading: John 8:1-11
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 87-88; Evening- Romans 13