by Leon

So often we make ourselves our own judge. We determine whether we deserve our forgiveness or whether others deserve it. We hold grudges not only against others but also against ourselves. Although God has blessed us with a moral compass by writing His laws on our hearts and minds, we are by no means meant to be our own judge nor the judge of others.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds, I will write them.” – Hebrews 10:16

We may at times feel like we are unworthy of the forgiveness God offers us. We may feel too dirty because when we sin, typically we immediately feel conviction. After all, God has inscribed His laws on our minds via our conscience. It’s human nature to feel regret after doing wrong. Sometimes – we feel so much regret that we deem ourselves unforgivable. By doing so, we make ourselves our own judge. We start to doubt the unfathomable grace and love of our Creator. We should never do that.

Look back to the story of the prodigal son. It’s a parable well known for demonstrating the immeasurable love of God. The prodigal son took his inheritance, left his father’s house and spent all his money on sinful living. He became poor and ate food from a pen of swine.

Finally – the son came to his senses and went back to his father to plead for forgiveness. His father saw his son in the distance and ran to him. Before he could even ask for forgiveness – the father kissed and hugged his son. Now – think about how his son was living. In ancient times, he was eating among swine in terrible sanitary conditions? He must have stunk! Surely, he was covered in filth, perhaps even pig feces. Yet, in his filth, his loving father reached out to show him compassion and grace. The son told his father to make him a hired servant.

This is us. This is how we are. We make ourselves our own judge and deem our actions unforgivable. The father would not honor that request. Instead of making his son a hired servant, he threw a celebration. The son who was lost came home. Many of us hold onto things in the past that we did wrong and choose not to forgive ourselves. Its time to let it go. If God forgave us – who are we as to not forgive ourselves?

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9