Forgiven and Free - iBelieve Truth - December 29, 2023
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7
Have you ever found yourself in a wrestling match with God? You know the place when you feel caught between choosing to accept forgiveness or continue clinging to the messes you've made that He’s been asking you to let go of. It's a hard tension, and forgiveness can be a really hard thing. Not just to extend, but to accept ourselves.
Over the last few years, I've had to reconcile this with the Lord. My lack of accepting God's forgiveness had taken every ounce of joy from so many things in my life. It caused hardship in my relationships and caused me to stumble in my thoughts more times than I’d like to admit. It put the worst of who I was on display for all those around me. And it boiled down to this; I wasn't willing to accept the gift I'd been given the day Jesus went to the cross. To be fully forgiven was set into motion the moment Jesus took His last breath on the cross. It was one of the last things He had spoken about before defeating the grave, "And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34
As you read through scripture and spend time in the New Testament, you'll see that Jesus talks a lot about forgiveness. It's the whole reason He came. We had to be forgiven to be reconciled to God so that we could live rightly and in the freedom we've so graciously received. It is the gift of forgiveness that has paved the way for eternal life. When Paul was writing to us about this gift God has given us, he noted something important that we can't overlook, forgiveness is a part of the mystery of God's will (vs. 9). Forgiveness is not just an action, it's an attribute of God the Father, it's an outpouring of His heart for you and me.
Something tender that the Holy Spirit has continued to point out to me is this: if I am who God says I am, then I must live forgiven. It's not just a suggestion; it's a calling. A high and holy calling that changes everything. It will change the way we live, the way we love, the way we extend grace, and change how quickly we show forgiveness to others. Today, He is inviting you to go deeper with Him by accepting the gift you received from the moment Jesus took our place on the cross. Remember, whom the Son sets free, is free indeed." John 8:36
Pray with me…
Lord, thank You for the gift of forgiveness. Help me see this as a gift for myself and not just a gift I'm to extend to others. Forgiveness changes the way we live and the way we love, and I want to be one who does this well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©Pablo Heimplatz/Unsplash
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
