Connect Revelations

Isaiah 43:25 (New International Version)

²⁵ "I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.

Blot: to stain, to cover, to remove...

Indeed He has blotted our transgressions away - and, what did He use to stain and to cover our sins... His blood. Now, when He sees us, instead of seeing our sins and transgressions, He sees the blood of Jesus. This verse, which we studied in Connect the last two weeks is full of truth and sets the Lord up as our perfect example of a forgiver.

Last night it was so interesting as we got to the subject of God forgiving and forgetting to see the rejection of this concept to our own personal lives. For us, it is more manageable to forgive than to forget. God though, being our example of forgiveness, determined that He would forgive His people and for His own sake remember their sins no more. When we forgive, do we forget? Can we truly forgive without forgetting? He said He would remember our sins no more. That word, 'remember' is an interesting word.

Remember:
recall knowledge from memory - keep in mind for attention or consideration - recapture the past; indulge in memories; call to remembrance; keep alive the memory of something

When we constantly recall negative memories from people who have wronged us - when we keep their actions in mind for future attention or consideration - when we recapture the past and indulge in negative memories from our past - when we call past hurts, pains, defeats, let-downs and keep these memories alive in our heads and hearts, we have not forgiven in the way the Lord has demonstrated forgiveness. The thing to remember is that forgiveness does more for the forgiver than for the forgiven. There's a famous statement that says that "resentment (unforgiveness) is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." Another famous quote says, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the only one who gets burned." In this scripture we find this sentiment echoed by our Lord... "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." He has forgiven us for His sake.

In the words that many of us pray every night... in the middle of the prayer lies this secret as we are instructed to pray - forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. The two concepts are connected - the only way to receive forgiveness is to give forgiveness. Lord, please give us a heart that forgives!

Pastor Razel Jones

Victory Life Christian Ministries