Show Me Your Glory: Reflections on God's Multifaceted HeartSample

God Forgives Without Ignoring

When was the last time you asked for someone’s forgiveness? When was the most recent time you offered it?

Healthy relationships flourish when both parties express both an eagerness to extend grace and a commitment to uphold wise boundaries. In Exodus 34, God declares that he does both.

“I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty*” (v. 7 NLT).

These verses about forgiveness and accountability are framed within the context of God’s covenant with the Israelite people. He’d just delivered them from slavery and invited them into relationship with himself, an invitation they wholeheartedly accepted (Exodus 19-31).

Yet, like a bride making out with one of her fiancée’s groomsmen, Israel quickly abandoned him for a golden image they could see and control (Exodus 32). Understandably, God responded with anger and passionate zeal. Yet despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, he chose to forgive and reaffirm his covenant with them (Exodus 34:10-35).

Because our God is a forgiving God.

While you and I may not have kissed the wrong person on our wedding day or bowed down before a shining statue, we were born with hearts naturally turned inward. From this self-oriented state, we’ve all lived in ways contrary to God’s character (Romans 3:23). This inward bent and its outward expression is what the Bible calls sin. God knows it will ultimately destroy us. Because of his love, he cannot excuse or overlook it.

Our sin stands between us and God (Isaiah 59:2).

Like Israel, we need mercy.

Just as he did with Israel, God offers us forgiveness (Exodus 34:7). In the Hebrew, to forgive means to “lift, bear up, carry, take.”1 This is exactly what Jesus did when he took on our sins at the cross.

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed” (1 Peter 2:24 NLT). And “God made Christ who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT).

Because his heart is forgiving, he lifts sin’s weight off the shoulders of all who come to him in faith. He reconciles us to Himself, welcomes us into a covenant relationship, and gives us a new identity as the people of God.

This is his heart’s desire for every person (2 Peter 3:9).

But he also knows genuine relationship can only exist within healthy boundaries. If the bride wants the groomsman more than she wants the Groom, she can have her own way. Similarly, if we reject his offer to remove sin, guilt can’t help but remain.

God is both forgiving and just.

He sees the brokenness of this world and longs to mend our fractured lives and sin-torn souls. In compassion, he calls us to draw near and find mercy, confess our sins, receive his cleansing, and be made new by his grace.

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18 NIV).

Personal Reflection: Have I experienced God's forgiveness? If not, am I willing to accept it by faith today? If I've already tasted his forgiveness, where am I casual about the presence of sin in my everyday life? How am I trying to rid myself of sin for God instead of participating with him as he changes me from the inside out?

Identity Check: Because God is forgiving, I can be forgiven and made new.

Prayer Prompt: Talk to God about your experience (or lack of experience) with his forgiveness. Ask him to help you see yourself and your sin through his eyes. If you’re willing, ask him to point out any areas of sin that need cleaning in your life.

1. The Blue Letter Bible Lexicon entry for h5375 in the NLT

Conclusion

Thank you for joining me on this journey into God's heart. I hope you’ve encountered him in a fresh and dazzling way.

These devotions are part of a larger series of email reflections exploring the multifaceted heart of God. To read more, please visit MeredithNMills.com.