Forgiveness equals peace

Today's devotion is based on Matthew 9:1,2 "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

In the 9th chapter of Matthew, we see Jesus perform at least seven miracles, answer questions and complaints from the teachers of the law, Pharisees, and even followers of John the Baptist. All the while, we see him confidently going about his ministry, calling another Apostle, instructing his disciples, and explaining his purpose on earth: to forgive sins and save souls. He raises a girl from the dead. He reads minds. He heals the blind, the paralyzed, the demon-possessed, and a woman with an unknown malady of constant bleeding.

In this chapter, as well as many other places in the Bible, Jesus shows us why he came into the world—he came to forgive sins. He said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." When God declares our sins forgiven, we can be assured that they are completely gone because God cannot lie. If your sins are burdening you, if your guilt is weighing you down, take heart, your sins are forgiven!

Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, the forgiveness of sins you freely give for Jesus' sake assures me that I am free of your sentence of condemnation. Clinging to your forgiveness by faith, I am blessed with a close and loving relationship with you forever. Thanks be to God. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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