Daily Journal: 21 August

I Don’t Condemn You

What kind of love is this?

Jesus, son of God, Designer and Creator of all, came in human flesh to declare God’s Kingdom. He was crucified on a Roman cross to take away our sin. Yet, even while we sin, He say’s to us, “I don’t condemn you”. Even those who crucified Him, He asked the Father not to hold it against them.

Do you know that sin is too much for us to bear? Sin is a burden that we carry. It’s brutally heavy. It’s bad for our hearts. It’s harsh on our minds. It ages our bodies.

Psalm 38:4 (NASB)

For my guilty deeds have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.

We don't always recognise sin because we’ve become hardened or defensive, but it still weighs heavily on us until we recognise what we’re like.

Sin isn’t only about us as individuals, it’s about the grievance sin causes as a group of people.

Isaiah 1:4 (NLT)

Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Sin is an offense to God. It causes shame when we criticise and condemn each other – both for ourselves and the ones we’re condemning. It causes grief when we disregard and dismiss each other, betraying trust in relationships. It shows pride and self-righteousness when we justify behaviour that meets certain desires at the expense of others. It shows impatience or intolerance when we don’t rightfully consider others. It causes insecurities when we compare or ridicule. It strips us of assurance when we believe lies rather than the hope that God’s love affirms us in. Sometimes we carry the sin of others' against us, without realising it.

Sin weakens us, and separates us from the One person who takes that burden away.

Sin is an offense to God because He sent His one and only Son to cover the burden of our sin, yet we don’t receive His covering. We carry our sin as if it’s worth something. What can it possibly be worth?

Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

Sin steals our joy and our confidence. It sweeps away hope. Jesus came to replace that and carry those burdens. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

We are invited to live in freedom; to leave things with Him and live in the relief of what Jesus has done.

John 3:17 (ESV)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

How will you choose to leave your sin at the feet of Jesus and live in freedom today?

Father, we thank you for sending Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus, thank you for being willing to lay your life down that we might be justified and made whole and be restored to the Father. Holy Spirit thank you for placing a seal of ownership on us, that nothing can separate us now from the love of God and fellowship with you. Help us to carry the redemption of Christ Jesus with joy and freedom.