God’s Forgiveness, Mercy, and Grace (1)

“Perfect love expels all fear.”                                      1Jn 4:18 NLT

God cares about you too much to leave you in any doubt about His love. The Bible says His “perfect love expels all fear.” If God loved us with an imperfect love, we’d have cause to worry. Human love is flawed; it keeps a checklist of our sins and shortcomings—and consults it often. God keeps no such list. His love casts out our fear because it casts out our guilt. John writes, “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart” (1Jn 3:20). When you feel unforgiven, question your feelings but don’t question God. Go back to His Word; it outranks self-criticism and self-doubt. Nothing fosters confidence like a clear grasp of God’s grace, and nothing fosters fear like ignorance of it. The fact is, if you haven’t accepted God’s grace you’re doomed to live in fear. No pill, pep talk, psychiatrist, or earthly possession can put your mind at ease. Those things may help numb your fear, but they can’t eradicate it. Only God’s grace can do that. Have you accepted Christ’s forgiveness? If not, get down on your knees and do it now. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9). The place of confession is also the place of cleansing and restored confidence toward God. Your prayer can be as simple as this: “Lord, I admit I’ve turned away from You. Please forgive me. I place my soul in Your hands and my trust in Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” Now, having received God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace—live like it!

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