Daily Devotional

Today, we tend to remember the pains and the hurts we have been put through. And we cringe every time our minds bring back sordid memories of hurtful moments. Consider this analogy on forgiveness.

You have two white pieces of paper. You leave one piece aside; the other piece you draw yourself on. Then take that same piece of paper with you on it and crinkle it as small as possible. Then, open up that piece of paper and iron it out.

Forgiveness, to God, is the clean white piece of paper that you put aside. It is not the ironed out one ... the ironed out paper has wrinkles and flaws in it. It is stained and holds traces of past sins, mistakes and hurts. It is dirty and has left severe marks on you. But the other half — the clean half — is what God gives us.

He says, "My child, I am faithful and just to forgive you from all your sins. I no more see a repentant sinner, but I see a whole new person. Here is a new piece of paper so that you can start building yourself up again. And if it gets crinkled again, just let Me know about it. I have an endless supply of paper for you. My Sons blood secured an unlimited stackful when He died for you."

Can you do that? Can you continually forgive a person? The best example you can use is the example of Jesus ... no matter how often somebody offends you or hurts you or says nasty things about you ... forgive them and give them a new piece of paper so that a new relationship can be started. Do not let hurts be engraved in stone, but rather scribbled in sand where Gods love can remove the scars.