A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse  February 6, 2018   The Joy of Forgiveness   Scripture Reading – Psalm 32:1 - 3 (NLT)

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away and I groaned all day long.”  

Can you remember what your life was like before you found love, life and forgiveness through Jesus Christ? I know that all of our stories are different, but truthfully in so many ways they were so much the same. For we tried to do life in our own strength, each one of us putting on masks or attempting to climb the ladder of success to impress I’m not quite sure who. In one word we were living our lives for ourselves, carrying that burden of sin that only Christ can relieve.

Then we found forgiveness in Jesus and were born-again by the Holy Spirit of God. He took up residence within our hearts and lives, and not only were we cleansed from our sins, but we experienced, ‘The Joy of Forgiveness’! The burden of sin was lifted and replaced by the joy of the Lord.

Now, no longer do we need to wear masks pretending. Although we still need to be those who strive to be open and honest before others with who we are, and all that we are becoming in Jesus. No longer are we living for ourselves, but now we are learning together what it means to live for God. At SPA – For Life, we have summed that up as a people who are: ‘Loving God and Leading Others to the Living Lord’.

Our sins have been forgiven, our guilt has been cleansed. Our Father in heaven has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west because of the precious blood of His one and only Son our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now God has called us to live our lives in honesty as a testimony that Jesus is alive and living through us.

When the record book of your life is examined it reads, ‘Not Guilty’! All because of the grace of God that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, my sisters and brothers our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This is the message we are called share in thought, word and deed!    

Prayer Heavenly Father I rejoice today because of the blood of Jesus that cleanses me from all of my sins. Help me to walk in the fullness of the joy of forgiveness as proof that Jesus is living and loving through me. Fill me to these ends as I live for You I pray in Jesus precious name.  

Memory Verse:  Matthew 7:12 NLT “___ to _______ whatever you would like them to do to you.”