"I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you."
Isaiah 44:22
God forgives our sins before we turn to Him. Like the father of the Prodigal Son who saw him coming from a long way off and ran to meet him, God is waiting, with His forgiveness already prepared, for us to return. Our redemption has already been paid and He waits for us to return.
The moment we turn in repentance to God we find that He was waiting, watching, ready to receive us. “I knew you’d come back!” He says.
We are met with forgiveness. We discover that we aren’t received with half-hearted suspicion or a “Humph! We’ll see!” attitude, but with the open arms and loving embrace of a Father who believes that our repentance is genuine and has just been waiting for it.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” and so we are loved, accepted, received, forgiven and restored.
Oh, how great the love God has for us! How infinite His grace, and how overwhelming His embrace as we, wandering sinners, return.
Father, I come to You in repentance, unworthy to be called your child but trusting in Your love. You redeemed me by the Blood of Jesus and invite me to return; I can only thank you. Make of me what You will. Amen
Pastor Dan Giles