When we do the very thing we hate

We can never sin so much that God would withhold His forgiveness from us.
God hates our sin, but He loves us. I love both parts of this sentence.
I’m thankful that God loves me. AND I’m thankful that He hates my sin. I love that He is holy. I need Him to be holy. I’m glad He calls me to holiness. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15 ESV).
When God shows me my sin, I don’t feel like a failure. Instead, I hear Him say, “My mercy and power are here for you.”
One of my favorite Bible verses, Hebrews 4:16 (ESV), explains this perfectly: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Once we acknowledge our sin, God forgives us. As we yield our will to His, He helps us make choices that honor Him and His Word.
I hear you. You’ve blown it “more than anyone else.” I can practically hear your tears of frustration and shame, which are likely similar to my own.
Yet I stand by my opening statement: we can never sin so much that God would withhold His forgiveness from us.
You are not the worst sinner ever. You are not beyond God’s grace and mercy. We all struggle with entangling sin that we feel we’ll never obtain victory over. Paul himself said, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15 ESV). And then, nine verses later, said, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (vv. 24–25).
Truth be told, I find great comfort in knowing, as verse 14 tells us, that I’m not the only one who struggles with doing “the very thing I hate.” I find tremendous relief (and joy!) in the next verses I quoted, that Jesus Christ delivers us from the control of sin!
Mike Clark, a Facebook friend, commented on one of my posts, “I often wondered about the Judgment Seat of Christ and what it will be like with having to see all my sins rolling before me. Recently, I understood how much more that experience will help me to love my Savior, Jesus Christ, for paying the price for ALL those sins!”
Thanks be to God!

Sheryl H. Boldt is a sales executive for Wave 94 and author of the blog, TodayCanBeDifferent.net. Connect with her at SherylHBoldt.Wave94@gmail.com.