Monday, January 24, 2011

Guilt Removed

Several years ago I read a survey that a popular Christian leader had issued. She asked almost 500 women what was the hardest thing about being a woman. The overwhelming response was GUILT! I was shocked. But truth be known guilt is an overwhelming part of most women's life. I am no different. So I started studying what the Bible says about guilt and I found this very interesting scripture passage.

"It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Isaiah 6:1-7 NLT

In this popular passage the prophet Isaiah has a vision of the Lord. As Isaiah is confronted with the holiness of God he "sees" how sinful he is (vs.5). When we truly see our sin in the light of a holy God we will have to confront it. Sometimes we compare our sin with the sin of others. We determine we aren't so bad...or there sin is worse than my sin. But sin is sin. There is no sin that can stand up against a holy God!!

The seraph moves and gets the coal and touches Isaiah's lips with it (vs.6-7). The seraph says "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven." Did you notice what the seraph said first?? He didn't say your sins are forgiven first...he said your guilt is removed, then he said your sins are forgiven. The message Bible says "gone your guilt; your sins are wiped out."

I think a lot of time, especially for women, we understand God has forgiven us but we remain in the guilt and never truly walk in total forgiveness!! Guilt is an intense feeling. Guilt says I owe you. Most guilt is based on a feeling!

God does not make us or want us to feel guilty. Is there consequences to sin - absolutely. But if we truly have repented and asked forgiveness then we are forgiven and the guilt is removed! If you are still feeling guilty over a situation expose that lie to the truth. Have you repented and asked forgiveness? If you have then your guilt has been removed! Counter that lie with the truth! God's word says you are forgiven. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 NIV. “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Hebrews 10:17 NLT. Let go of the guilt. When the enemy tries to make you feel guilty fire back with what God's word says..your guilt has been removed!