Day 4: Sins Thrown into the Depths of the Sea
Bible passage: Micah 7:18–19; Psalm 86:5; Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:14
Still Paying?
Today is Monday 1st of April 2019. Welcome to Day 4 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Yesterday we saw how a righteous God can accept us. Today we stay with one of the sweetest truths about Him. He forgives.
Many Christians live under a cloud of guilt. They believe that they are forgiven, yet they keep trying to make it up to God. It is not hard to see why. In this world everything has to be paid for. We find it very hard to believe that anyone would wipe out a debt for nothing.
But God is not like people.
The Forgiving God
He Delights in It
The prophet Micah ends his book in wonder. Where is another God like this, who pardons guilt and passes over the sins of His people? He does not stay angry for ever, because He delights in showing unfailing love (Micah 7:18).
Forgiveness is not something God does reluctantly. He delights in it.
Where Our Sins Go
Micah goes on to say what God does with our sins. He tramples them under His feet and throws them into the depths of the ocean (Micah 7:19).
Whatever is thrown into the deep sea is not coming back. God does not keep our sins in a drawer to bring out later. When He forgives, the matter is finished. Trying to pay Him back for a debt that He has cancelled does not honour Him. It doubts Him.
Ready to Forgive
David had sinned greatly and been forgiven greatly, and he had learned what God is like. “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive.” Psalm 86:5 (NLT)
He adds that God is full of unfailing love for all who ask for His help. Nobody who asks is turned away.
Passing It On
As the Lord Forgave You
Forgiven people are called to forgive. Paul tells us to make allowance for each other’s faults and to forgive anyone who offends us. The Lord forgave us, so we must forgive others (Colossians 3:13). Jesus says that if we forgive those who sin against us, our heavenly Father will forgive us (Matthew 6:14).
This can be very hard, especially when the wound is deep. Forgiving does not mean saying that what happened did not matter. It means releasing the person from the debt and leaving them with God. We cannot do that in our own strength, and God does not ask us to.
Three Steps for Today
Stop paying. Is there something you confessed long ago and still punish yourself for? Thank God that it is at the bottom of the sea.
Remember. Thank God for particular times when you have known His forgiveness.
Forgive. Ask God to bring to mind anyone you need to forgive. Tell Him that you are willing, and ask Him to give you the power to do it.
Prayer for Today:
Father, where is another God like You? Thank You that there is nothing I have done that You will not forgive when I come to You. Thank You that my sins are gone for good. Forgive me for trying to pay for what Jesus has already paid for. Work in my heart, and give me the power to forgive others as You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
Let us pray with you: send a prayer request.
Join one of our prayer meetings.
