Guiltless
by Katherine Kehler
Back to Index
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
I purchased an expensive picture for our bedroom. I had been looking for one since we moved into the house six years earlier and finally found the perfect one. At least, so I thought at the time of the purchase. There was a catch, the sale was final, I could not return it if I didn’t like it.
To my utter dismay, after it was delivered and placed on the wall over our bed, I realized I didn’t like the picture. It didn’t look right in the room. The colors were too vibrant and looked wrong in our peaceful bedroom. The picture disturbed me greatly every time I walked into the room.
Now I faced another choice - take the picture down and put it into the storage room or learn to live with it. The worse part wasn’t the picture; it was the guilt I felt over the price I’d paid for the picture. I was losing sleep because I felt so terrible. The money could have been better used. For several weeks as I went about my work, this feeling of guilt kept gnawing at me.
One day while I was out walking, the Lord brought the promise in Romans 9:1 to mind:
“Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The light went on. That is right, I thought, I don’t have to walk around with this guilt - I can confess it and Jesus Christ will remove the feelings of guilt. After all, that is why He died.
So I did. I admitted that my purchase was too expensive. I told God how badly I felt about it and claimed His forgiveness according to 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
My burden of guilt was removed immediately and in its place, joy now filled my life.
Through Christ’s death on the cross, God offers us freedom from guilt. Often, we don’t take the time to analyze our guilty feelings or take the time to admit and confess them and we suffer needlessly. Friend, do not suffer in silence. Confess to the Lord and know that He will be faithful to forgive.
Lord, thank You for dying so we can be set free from all of guilt and sin – no matter how big or small. Your blood has erased all of our sin. Thank you so much! Amen.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord, I need you now more than ever. I want your peace of mind. In the midst of my broken heart and my pain, I turn to you. Jesus, I ask you to forgive my sins and to give me your peace and comfort. I open the door of my life and put my trust in you.
If you sincerely expressed that prayer to God, you can know that you have a personal relationship with Him. He will be your comfort in these troubled times. God promises us "peace that passes understanding" in other words peace in a world that doesn't make sense. You can know peace and hope even when your world is in turmoil. God does not change. Ever.
Related article:
God is My Delight
TODAY's Thought: Daily Devotional 
