Paralysed by Un-forgiveness
by Paul Griffin
The man lying on a stretcher, whose friends had brought him to Jesus, obviously had a physical problem. It was clear to everyone that he was physically paralysed on the outside. But Jesus addressed a paralysis of un-forgiveness on the inside. This paralysis didn’t result from the need for the man to forgive others who had sinned against him. No - it was rooted in the insecurity and uncertainty that his own sins hadn’t been fully dealt with. He needed to hear Jesus tell him that his sins were forgiven.
There are many today who live with this kind of inner paralysis and have the same need to know their sins are forgiven. On a Healing Retreat a man shared this wonderful testimony of knowing God’s forgiveness in his own life:
‘I’d been walking with the Lord for 30 years, loved Jesus, and yet my life was empty and my marriage was at the verge of divorce. I knew I was at a time of all or nothing, yet I didn’t know what I was looking for. During the ministry I found myself being emptied and refilled with a love I had never known. I realised for the first time in my life I was forgiven. Even when at 15 years old I gave my life to the Lord, I had never received or experienced His forgiveness, only His salvation. Well now I know both and have become a new man. I’m looking forward to being what God wants me to be, a father, a husband, and most of all a lover of Jesus.’
Are there still issues from the past that the enemy uses to make you feel guilty, unworthy or unable to be a lover of Jesus? Take them again before God and not only ask for His forgiveness but choose also to receive His forgiveness. Choose to believe that Jesus carried away all your guilt and shame when He went to the Cross in your place. Choose to receive His mercy, forgiveness and love and become the person He wants you to be.
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for carrying all my guilt and shame. Help me to recognise and stand against the crippling burden of false guilt and condemnation in my life. Help me to arise and walk in the knowledge and experience of Your mercy, forgiveness and love. Amen.
Paul Griffin Paul spent 20 years working as a chemical engineer for an oil company in South Africa, the Middle East and Japan prior to going to Bible College. Paul and his wife Liz have been involved with Ellel since 1991 and are associate teachers as well as being authors of the books ‘Anger …How do you Handle it?’ and ‘Hope and Healing for the Abused.’
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