God does more than forgive our mistakes; He removes them! We simply have to take them to Him.
He not only wants the mistakes we've made. He wants the ones we are making! Are you making some? Are you drinking too much? Are you cheating at work or cheating at marriage? Are you mismanaging money? Are you mismanaging your life?
If so, don't pretend nothing is wrong. Don't pretend you don't fall. Don't try to get back in the game. Go first to God. The first step after a stumble must be in the direction of the cross. "If we confess our sins to God, He can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away" (
1 John 1:9).
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What can you leave at the cross? Start with your bad moments. And while you are there, give God your mad moments.
Do you remember the story about the man who was bitten by the dog? When he learned the dog had rabies, he began making a list. The doctor told him there was no need to make a will, that rabies could be cured. "Oh, I'm not making a will," he replied, "I'm making a list of all the people I want to bite."
Couldn't we all make such a list? You've already learned, haven't you, that friends aren't always friendly? Neighbors aren't always neighborly? Some workers never work, and some bosses are always bossy?
You've already learned, haven't you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? just because someone is called your dad, that doesn't mean he will act like your dad. Even though they said "yes" on the altar, they may say "no" in the marriage.
You've already learned, haven't you, that we tend to fight back? To bite back? To keep lists and snarl lips and growl at people we don't like?
God wants your list. He inspired one servant to write, "Love does not keep a record of wrongs" (
1 Cor. 13:5). He wants us to leave the list at the cross.
Not easy.
"Just look what they did to me!" we defy and point to our hurts.
"Just look what I did for you," he reminds and points to the cross.
Paul said it this way: "If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you" (
Col. 3:13).
You and I are commanded -- not urged, commanded -- to keep no list of wrongs.
Besides, do you really want to keep one? Do you really want to catalog all your mistreatments? Do you really want to growl and snap your way through life? God doesn't want you to either. Give up your sins before they infect you and your bitterness before it incites you, and give God your anxiety before it inhibits you. Give God your anxious moments.
A man told his psychologist that his anxieties were disturbing his dreams. Some nights he dreamed he was a pup tent; other nights he dreamed he was a tepee. The doctor quickly analyzed the situation and replied, "I know your problem. You're too tense."