Far and Removed

My parents grew up in the Philippines and the barangays (neighbourhoods) they lived in had many hills and no paved roads. Getting to school would take an hour-long walk’s journey one-way.

My mom would say: _“We used to have to walk faaaaar, far, far to get to school. The roads were full of mud and the hills were steep. If your tsinelas (slipper) broke, you’d have to walk barefoot to school!”

What’s the furthest distance you’ve walked? If you drive, what’s the longest distance you’ve driven without stopping for a break? As excited as you were to finally arrive at your destination, do you remember feeling exhausted or weary? Eyes tired, legs shaky, feet beginning to feel sore?

When I think of what it will take for me to get from point A to point B, especially knowing a long journey is ahead, I feel exhausted. Today’s passage reminds us that even the grandest, farthest distance cannot compare to the vastness of God’s forgiveness. I’ve often heard people say, Imagine you had to watch a movie of all your sins, both hidden and seen, play out on a screen for the world to see. It would seem at first that your transgressions are far too great for forgiveness to even be considered a possibility. But it is! And it is true! And it is far greater than what we can even fathom. 

Be encouraged. If you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus and invited him to be Lord of your life, all your sins are forgiven. You are a new creation. You are made pure as snow. Jesus’ righteousness is now your own. His Spirit lives within you and is transforming you moment by moment. 

Here is a song that has been a big encouragement to me. When confronted with the brokenness and sinfulness in your own life, hold on to this truth: Christ is your righteousness and he is enough. May it be your prayer of worship today!

What gift of grace is Jesus my Redeemer There is no more for heaven now to give He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus For my life is wholly bound to his Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine” Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Throughout This Day: Thank God often for removing all your sins so far away by offering up his only Son to pay for every single one of them and take them all away.