Giving forgiveness
The people of Israel will no longer say, “We are sick and helpless,” for the Lord will forgive their sins. ~ Isaiah 33:24 (NLT)
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God’s undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. ~ Romans 5:1-2 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord freely gives forgiveness.
PRAYER:
Lord, you freely extend forgiveness and peace to all who will accept your kindness. But I am among those who still fall back on trying to prove my worthiness of your grace -- at least some of the time. Help me to trust in your faithfulness so that I can live exclusively by faith. I am going to live by what you give. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
