Our Burden is No Longer Ours

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands." - Colossians 2:13-14

Before Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross, we were the enemies of God.  The past few days I've wrestled with the seemingly unbearable weight of my past, present, and future sin, recognizing the deserved implications of such rebellious behavior is God pouring out His holy and divine wrath.  An eternal separation from God inspires incredible fear,  but as the old hymn beautifully states, "t'was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace, my fears relieved."

The Gospel of Jesus Christ outlines His humble and loving willingness to accept our "record of debts" as His own - He Himself being perfect - , nailing them to the cross alongside Him, and fulfilling the requirements of God's righteous law through receiving God's divine punishment for our sins.  You and I are forgiven.  The shame and guilt of our sin were crucified with our Savior, and we are now righteous through faith in Christ.  Don't live life focused on the depravity of your thoughts and actions, but with repentant hearts rejoice in the joy of the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ, and the work His performing in you through the Holy Spirit.

Never forget the eternal weight of Jesus' atoning death on the cross, and with the knowledge of the gospel never let shame and regret dictate your life.  Who we were in the past is not who we are today, and who we are today is not who we will be tomorrow because through Christ we "have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Colossians 3:9-10).

Pursue your faith, diligently put to death the things of the flesh, walk faithfully in the newness of Christ, and when shame and guilt start to reveal themselves, remember Jesus knows every detail of our story, and is not ashamed to call us brothers [and sisters] (Scott Thomas).

Love you guys.