Day 12 – Spiritual Blessings – Forgiveness

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7

Imagine today you did something terribly wrong, a sin driving you mad and the only way you can ask for forgiveness is to go to the temple, slaughter an animal and offer it as a sacrifice for your sin. The populace would slaughter a female animal or two doves (depending on their financial wealth), the leaders a male goat, and the priests a bull. I don’t know about you, but I do not have these animals grazing on my small patch of grass in the garden. Even if you did, imagine the temple and priests are in another city a few days walk away…

It must have been painful for sinners under the Mosaic Law to slaughter an innocent animal when they knew they were the ones who had done wrong. In the same way, it is painful for us to admit our guilt and to know that the innocent and holy Son of God took the punishment for our sins.

Closely related to redemption, forgiveness looks at the other side of the coin. When Jesus paid the ransom of our sins with the sacrifice of His life, the debt of sin was cancelled, and we could ask for forgiveness. Anytime. We no longer need to carry the burden of guilt for violating God’s laws. It is a blessing to ask forgiveness through Jesus at any time, and even more, so that we know our sins are forgiven.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the blessing of Jesus’s life and the blessing of forgiveness. Allowing us forgiveness through You Son shows Your deep love for us and the relationship You want with us. Thank You that the blood of Jesus was enough for our forgiveness and the price paid. In Jesus’s Name, amen.