Release Or Regret

admin December 16, 2020January 17, 2021 0 Comments

Acts 13:38 TPT

“So listen, friends! Through this Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is offered to you.

Following rules came pretty naturally for me growing up, especially being a pastor’s kid (you know what I mean), and also, hard work was expected. Any error is a problem, I am to admit it and take responsibility for my actions. To them, I am to be as perfect as they want me to be compared to other children. The most amazing part of it however, was that, both my parents were loving, just, and a great source of encouragement. Still, I grew up believing if I just followed the rules, admitted the errors and tried harder, life would be good. Enter sin.

Paul writes in Acts 13:38, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Wait a minute… “through Jesus.” This contrasted every thing it seemed I was taught. I thought I could handle my sin problem, like going to the gym. If only I could jump on some “spiritual fitness” program (fast, pray several hours and read my Bible), admit my errors and work harder to get spiritually fit…

Sadly, the harder I tried, and the more self-imposed rules I applied, the results were always the same – failure. How many times did I have to climb the hill of regret before I realized I could not create my own spiritual conditioning? This lesson must have also been hard for Paul’s listeners when he told them this was “a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”

The choice was mine: release or regret. I discovered relief when I chose to believe that Jesus did the work in dying for the forgiveness of my sins. That’s when I stepped off the spiritual treadmill and chose instead to walk by faith. I finally found freedom.

You can too, by choosing to release yourself and believe in the finished work of Christ.