Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that if Jesus hasn't risen from the dead and conquered sin and death, then we will always struggle with shame, guilt, and debt punishment for the sins we commit. For some people, life has consistently felt like this, where they are burdened and held back by their sins and the weight of those sins. They’ve tried to remove the shame and guilt themselves or just tried to pretend like never happened, but it just seems to get worse.
But the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead and conquer sin means that we can have freedom and forgiveness for all our sins. There is no mistake or wrongdoing that's big enough to change how much God loves you or the fact that his forgiveness is limitless. When you realize how deeply God loves you and how Jesus was willing to die on the cross to take away your sins, it changes the way you think about those sins. You see them with a new perspective, and are able to share your sins and struggles with others in right space. You can share your story now because those mistakes that used to represent guilt and shame have come to represent grace and how much you are loved by your Heavenly Father. The very sin that you were once ashamed of has actually revealed how deeply you are unconditionally loved.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTION: When do you struggle most to realize you are unconditionally loved by God? What are some Scripture verses you can memorize to combat those feelings of being unloved by God?
Comments