Forgive me for wanting what I should not want.
Forgive me for doing what I should not do, for saying things I should not say, for behaving in a manner that is not reflective of what I should be at times.
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2)
We do, but we live here, our memories are of here, we plan most our future, even when it is for the glory of God, here, and when one walks continuously in enemy territory, it is impossible not to witness, and sometimes desire, that which the enemy still holds dear.
Even with the full knowledge of who we represent, we fail at times in our endeavors to be, for lack of a better word, perfect in the eyes of the Almighty. Even the heart that is sincere my friends will stumble at times.
“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1st Peter 1:16)
I ask you to consider this, those things you did before the Holy Spirit entered into your life, those words you said, the actions and deeds you committed that you now realize were sinful, would you ever go back to them? Of course not.
What we ask the Lord to forgive us for today, as we grow in His grace and knowledge, as we shine brighter and brighter, the world does not even begin to contemplate, no different than how inconsequential those things were to you back then. Mere thoughts that enter into our minds disgust us, minor infractions against His will can cause us to plead for His mercy upon us.
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)
I offer you wisdom here my friends, to be holy is not to be perfect.
Two verses for you to contemplate in this regard.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1st John 1:8)
And
“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Eze. 28:15)
How the most beautiful, powerful and perfectly created being came to know sin is not the topic of this short letter to you today, nor is the fact that we know, even after we have been born-again, that we will sin, it is the level of sin one commits before the need to ask for forgiveness enters into our thoughts.
“For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23b)
How many things did you do today without one thought of whether or not it was through faith that you did them? Many, I would suppose, we all do. Does that mean that you committed sins in need of repentance?
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2nd Cor. 10:5)
You didn’t keep every thought captive though, did you? And neither did I or any of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
How much of what we do, or do not do, needs to be brought before the Almighty and asked forgiveness for, how much of the “normal” routine of our lives do we need to repent of?
Being holy does not mean being perfect, and it definitely does not mean being what we cannot in this life be, sinless.
The sincerity of the heart is what the Most High looks upon, and He can tell when we are faking it, He knows when asking for His forgiveness for our shortcomings is required and when it is not.
Do you?
Ask yourself this question, the flesh that serves the law of sin, does it control you or do you control it? How many thoughts did you have today that you believe you need to ask forgiveness for, how many images flashed before your mind’s eye that you believe you need to fall on your knees and repent of?
If we are honest with ourselves my friends, if we did so, we would need to walk on our knees.
The realization of that lite yoke, of the rest He offers, of the peace that passes all understanding arrives with the knowledge of what sin is and what it is not.
It would be wise of you to study this topic.
