Many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus setting the child on his lap and telling the disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Mark 10:15).
The obvious indication is that children are open to accept the love of Jesus, and truth of the gospel, without hesitation or over-analyzing.
Something came to me, today. It isn’t just a child’s faith that we need to emulate.
There is one aspect of this story that seems to be glossed over.
Children not only able to accept God's love, but they are also willing to accept forgiveness. If a child makes a mistake, and an adult forgives them, they freely accept that forgiveness.
They don’t go around for days or weeks, condemning themselves for breaking that vase, or whatever it is. They don’t go back to that adult, over and over again, asking for forgiveness for the same offense.
A child takes the adult at his or her word, and the incident is quickly forgotten. Out of love and/or respect they might try to be more careful next time, but they do not waste energy worrying about what has already been forgiven.
It is we, as adults, that can’t seem to get it. We make a mistake, and go to God in prayer. We ask for forgiveness, and the blood of Christ washes it away. The memory of that sin is cast as far as the east is from the west. Yet, we still carry the guilt and shame of that sin around. It cripples us, because we can’t forgive ourselves.
Then, we go back to God, and ask for forgiveness for that same sin, over and over again. God doesn’t even remember the sin, but we keep bringing it back up.
I struggle so much with this, and I've been questioning how to more freely accept God's forgiveness. This scripture came to mind, and it clicked. I not only have to have the faith of a child, but I have to be willing to accept forgiveness like a child.
My son does not keep apologizing for mistakes he made 6 months ago. He will make enough mistakes today to need a new dose of love and forgiveness. He doesn’t pile on additional guilt and shame that he has been carrying on his shoulders.
Joel is a good kid, but he is human. He makes mistakes, but I still love him. Not only does he not carry around the guilt and shame for some mistake he made months ago, I don’t either. I don’t keep a running tab on what offenses he might have perpetrated yesterday, let alone offenses committed years ago.
If Joel came to me over and over again, asking forgiveness for the same mistake, he would eventually get on my nerves. If he didn’t stop, I might impose some minor punishment, just to get him to let it go. If he wanted to pay some kind of price so bad that nothing I said was working, I might give him some kind of “penance”, just to help him feel better.
Inflicting that minor punishment would not change the fact that I had already forgiven him. No, I would impose that punishment for his peace of mind. I would have already forgiven, and if it weren’t for him bringing it up repeatedly, forgotten the original mistake.
God is perfect, and He doesn't run out of patience wiht us, and doesn't punish us for forgiven sin. So, we try and punish ourselves. We berate ourselves. We may not even attempt to succeed, because we are burdened with guilt for sins forgiven long ago.
God sees our potential, and when our own inability to forgive ourselves keeps us from reaching that potential, I believe God is grieved. His plans for us are so far beyond what we can comprehend. He wants to be glorified in all we do, and he rejoices in our triumphs.
How many times have you seen a parent cheering on the sidelines for their son or daughter. God loves you, and He rejoices when you achieve great things for His glory.
How much unessecary pain do we bring upon ourselves, because we feel that we need to be punished for sins that God has forgiven?
Is it pride, and therefore sin, to not accept God's forgiveness? Is it sin to not serve God with all the potential He placed within us, because we refuse to accept that forgiveness?
The obvious indication is that children are open to accept the love of Jesus, and truth of the gospel, without hesitation or over-analyzing.
Something came to me, today. It isn’t just a child’s faith that we need to emulate.
There is one aspect of this story that seems to be glossed over.
Children not only able to accept God's love, but they are also willing to accept forgiveness. If a child makes a mistake, and an adult forgives them, they freely accept that forgiveness.
They don’t go around for days or weeks, condemning themselves for breaking that vase, or whatever it is. They don’t go back to that adult, over and over again, asking for forgiveness for the same offense.
A child takes the adult at his or her word, and the incident is quickly forgotten. Out of love and/or respect they might try to be more careful next time, but they do not waste energy worrying about what has already been forgiven.
It is we, as adults, that can’t seem to get it. We make a mistake, and go to God in prayer. We ask for forgiveness, and the blood of Christ washes it away. The memory of that sin is cast as far as the east is from the west. Yet, we still carry the guilt and shame of that sin around. It cripples us, because we can’t forgive ourselves.
Then, we go back to God, and ask for forgiveness for that same sin, over and over again. God doesn’t even remember the sin, but we keep bringing it back up.
I struggle so much with this, and I've been questioning how to more freely accept God's forgiveness. This scripture came to mind, and it clicked. I not only have to have the faith of a child, but I have to be willing to accept forgiveness like a child.
My son does not keep apologizing for mistakes he made 6 months ago. He will make enough mistakes today to need a new dose of love and forgiveness. He doesn’t pile on additional guilt and shame that he has been carrying on his shoulders.
Joel is a good kid, but he is human. He makes mistakes, but I still love him. Not only does he not carry around the guilt and shame for some mistake he made months ago, I don’t either. I don’t keep a running tab on what offenses he might have perpetrated yesterday, let alone offenses committed years ago.
If Joel came to me over and over again, asking forgiveness for the same mistake, he would eventually get on my nerves. If he didn’t stop, I might impose some minor punishment, just to get him to let it go. If he wanted to pay some kind of price so bad that nothing I said was working, I might give him some kind of “penance”, just to help him feel better.
Inflicting that minor punishment would not change the fact that I had already forgiven him. No, I would impose that punishment for his peace of mind. I would have already forgiven, and if it weren’t for him bringing it up repeatedly, forgotten the original mistake.
God is perfect, and He doesn't run out of patience wiht us, and doesn't punish us for forgiven sin. So, we try and punish ourselves. We berate ourselves. We may not even attempt to succeed, because we are burdened with guilt for sins forgiven long ago.
God sees our potential, and when our own inability to forgive ourselves keeps us from reaching that potential, I believe God is grieved. His plans for us are so far beyond what we can comprehend. He wants to be glorified in all we do, and he rejoices in our triumphs.
How many times have you seen a parent cheering on the sidelines for their son or daughter. God loves you, and He rejoices when you achieve great things for His glory.
How much unessecary pain do we bring upon ourselves, because we feel that we need to be punished for sins that God has forgiven?
Is it pride, and therefore sin, to not accept God's forgiveness? Is it sin to not serve God with all the potential He placed within us, because we refuse to accept that forgiveness?
Hey Mark, thanks for inviting me to your blog. I enjoyed reading through your thoughts...I think the line from the Christmas carol can help sum up your thoughts, "God and sinners reconciled".... ;) That's what Jesus; life was all about....reconcilling us to God and eachother- and the only way that would happen is the forgiveness we received at the foot of the cross. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings- Cass