Imagine if you had a blank sheet of white paper. It is completely free of spots, marks or wrinkles.
Imagine if that blank piece of paper represented your life.
The bible says that we’ve been given such a blank piece of paper; a clean slate, when we come to Jesus.We acknowledge where we have messed up and fallen short, and ask for His forgiveness. That clean slate is then gifted to us, and it’s our choice what we do with it.
God says He is faithful and just to forgive all our mistakes; where we haven’t acted, said or thought the right things. He cleanses us and gives us His righteousness, His being right, His holiness, His cleansing, His strength, His purity.
A clean slate is a blank page, free from disappointment, sin, and mistakes. It’s an opportunity to take hold of new life, to be a new creation, and embrace a brand new way of living.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:19)
No matter what we’ve done, God, when we come to Him, always gives us a fresh start, a clean slate, a blank page.
God loves us and wants us to live free, without the weights of the past. Part of living in that freedom is that He asks that we do for others what He has done for us. We are encouraged in fact to be “imitators of God”. To think like He thinks, talk like He talks, act like He acts, and to forgive as He forgives.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
People may have wronged us, disappointed, abused, taken advantage, been rude etc. But God says to forgive them and let it go.
Imagine if you wrote down all the wrong, messed up things you are guilty of. God then takes that list and tears it up. If you come to Him he promises that, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12).
Yet how many lists do we hold of other people’s faults and wrong doings towards us, or those we care about?
Isn’t it time you extended the same grace and forgiveness you have been offered, and tear up those lists?
Examine your heart. What lists do you have today? What list have you got of your own failings, and what lists do you have of others shortcomings?
Lists where you have been disappointed, or feel like a failure. Where you have anger and bitterness in your heart. Do you have a list of hurts and grievances? Lists on your husband or wife, partner, friends, family, workmates.
Too many of us have great big long lists. Some we’ve been carrying around for a very long time.
You tell yourself that’s ok. You don’t know what they did or do.
But God knows your lists, and He says today to tear them up. He offers you a black brand new piece of paper, and He says to offer other people the same chance.
It’s a massive weight to carry where you know you’ve been less than you should have been, and people are holding it against you.
What a relief people feel when we extend to them a blank piece of paper, a clean slate.
Beware, it doesn’t mean they won’t mess up, or that you won’t stumble yourself. But God, if you let Him will take the lead, He will guide and teach you to love and walk in forgiveness just as He does.
Give God your lists today. Let them go, and allow Him to restore, and make you and your relationships healthy and whole.
Prayer: Lord I give you all my lists. Forgive me for where I have fallen short of what you have asked of me. Thank you that you offer me a blank page to write the next chapter of my story on. I also choose to let go of the lists I hold on others. I forgive as you forgave me. I let go, and let you lead. In Jesus Name. Amen.