Motivator or Crippler? Consumed by or do you seek forgiveness and restoration? There are so many reasons and reactions to guilt. The one thing we can’t do is to let it define us. How do you react to guilt? What do you do about it?
The simplest is not always the path we choose… again for a variety of reasons. However, saving face is rarely a good reason to avoid acknowledgement of our actions or words, and the need for forgiveness. The offended party always has the option to not accept our apology, but that isn’t ours to choose. And, the only way we or others really know if we are truly sorry is in our changed behavior. No change – no sorrow on our part.
Too often, though, we hang onto our guilt. If we have sought forgiveness and have attempted to not repeat the previous behavior, then… are you telling God He still can’t forgive you? Or maybe a bit of ‘penance’ will make you feel better about yourself? What keeps you holding onto the baggage and not moving on? It does take courage to admit when you are wrong. And it takes courage to seek forgiveness. And it takes courage to change your words and behavior. But what kind of courage does it take to hold onto guilt?
Perhaps you think I’m being a bit harsh? No. I am being logical. I’m not dismissing the feelings associated with guilt, I’m suggesting a better way. There are 9 distinct verses in scripture that talk about guilt and how we should view and respond to it.
1. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
2. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
3. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
4. “ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ ” says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’ ” (Isaiah 1:18)
5. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
6. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12)
7. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12)
8. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
9. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
As much as I might like… I can’t take credit for assembling these scriptures. I discovered the compilation at: www.amazingfacts.org. These are not unfamiliar or obscure scriptures – we use them all the time. This richness focuses us on how we need to view and react when we are facing guilt. With these scriptures in mind, we have no right to hold on to the baggage of guilt. We are empowered and equipped to move on.
