The Marks of Love
by Tracy Bankuti
23 January 2025
« Previous DayKnowing truth and receiving truth are two very different realities. For instance, I knew the song ‘Amazing Grace’ long before I became a believer and even understood what it was talking about, but it wasn’t until I had received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour that the truth of His amazing grace became a reality for me. I went from knowing about something to receiving and accepting that ‘something’ for myself. I was brought into God’s reality.
Choosing to move beyond knowing, to receiving the truth of the word when it comes to what God has done with our sin, can pull you out from under an oppressive weight of guilt, shame, and condemnation. The accuser, known as Satan, will always point his finger at you to convince you that you are a sinner, which ultimately keeps your eyes fixed on you. He wants you to receive and accept his twisted truth so that you live your life under the burden of an identity of sin and shame.
What do you call yourself? Are you a sinner, or are you a child of God who sins? Yes, we have and still sin, but our identity is now in Christ as a new creation. There is a solution for the guilt and shame of sin. It’s confession! ‘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).
However, maybe today we need to ask ourselves this question, “Have I chosen to forgive myself for … (lying, stealing, sexual sin, gossiping, infidelity, abortion, rebellion, addiction, idolatry etc)?” You can fill in the blank. Are you in agreement with the accuser or the Saviour today? Are you keeping record of your own sin? Daily, we have the choice to choose and receive God’s truth.
Listen to what God, who is love (1 John 4:16) intentionally chooses to do with your sin.
God treads your sin underfoot and throws your sin into the sea (Micah 7:19). God throws your sin behind his back (Isaiah 38:17). God blots out your sin (Isaiah 43:25). God forgets your sin (Hebrews 8:12). God removes your sin (Psalm 103:12). God covers your sin (Romans 4:7-8). God cancels the debt of your sin (Colossians 2:14). God washes your sin (Isaiah 1:18). God does not keep a record of wrong (1 Corinthians 13:5).
‘How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (1 John 3:1). Enter into God’s truth and reality for you, His child, today.
Tracy Bankuti has been part of the team at Ellel Canada East since December 2009 after coming on a healing retreat and taking the training courses with her husband George. God has miraculously restored her marriage of 35 years, her family and health and she now serves on full time team along-side her husband and daughter Allicia. She is passionate about restoration for families, enjoys teaching, ministering, playing her guitar and hiking in the forest.
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