live like you're forgiven

Live Like You Are Forgiven

Can we just take a moment to dissect one of the most important life changing scriptures in the Bible that gets little to no attention from Colossians 1:21-23 please? It is important because it let's you know that you are to live like you're forgiven because you are! It reads, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."

Does this not hit you hard? I mean I read this & my mind is blown🤯! Let me start off by saying that this was a letter written by Paul. Paul is one of my most favorite persons in the Bible because he was known for persecuting Christians before meeting Jesus. I don't know about you, but I have done some pretty crappy things in my life to people so I can relate to him well. But, nothing I did could compare in a worldly fashion to killing someone. So.....I figure if God will forgive & use one of the most sinful men to spread His Word & be a light in the world, surely He can forgive & use you & me.

Colossians 1:21 shows that Paul knows we are going to have a hard time forgiving ourselves, "enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." He understands the mental agony of regret & shame. Paul then goes on to say that despite what you have done & how you feel about yourself, God wants to forgive you, take away any accusations placed upon you & wipe your slate clean. He wants to take all the bad that you have done away from you. But you have to do something. You have to repent for what you have done & believe that it is finished. That means trusting that God's sacrifice of His only son was enough to take away your sin. Scripture is filled with testimonies from sinners whom God blessed simply because of their faith in Him, not their works or righteousness. Their faith. Paul concludes by assuring us that this promise of forgiveness is offered to, "every creature under heaven." In other words, absolutely everything on the earth with no exceptions or limits no matter what they did, didn't do or should have done. Everything. You. Me. Us.

If you are stuck in your journey because you can't get over something, just get over yourself. I don't mean this to sound harsh, but don't think you are so special that God can't or won't forgive you. Surrender to Him. Intentionally use scriptures to counter the negative lies satan is feeding your brain. You don't have to believe them. Ask for forgiveness & have faith that God is bigger than your mistakes. No one else needs to forgive you. No one else even needs to hear of your sins. It's you & God. Give & release to Him all that is holding you back from peace in your life.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ in to your life & would like to do so now, say this prayer in your own words:

God, I believe in you. I believe you sent your only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins so that I can be forgiven & loved by you. I'm sorry for the things I've done wrong. I'm sorry for (insert your sins & share your heart with Him). (Talk to Him. He already knows you. He just wants you to invite Him in to have a relationship with you.) Thank you Father for all that you have done for me. Thank you for forgiving me & washing me clean. I accept you in to my life & surrender all that I have & am to you Lord. Amen.

Now send me a message so I can pray for you and connect! Let's not wait to meet in eternity. 😁