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Those verses we read mean so much more than we even realize. For some of us, the label of Unforgiven has marked our lives. We think that the things we’ve done are so hurtful and crushing that we don’t feel that we deserve to be forgiven. So instead of walking in freedom, we walk in constant shame, guilt, and regret. But those verses are so true, not only does God remove our sin as far from us as the east is from the west, He takes what was once stained and makes it clean. He is not afraid of our mess, He goes into our mess and makes it beautiful. 

I love being able to go to the beach and just sit on the sand and watch the waves flow in and out. But the part that always blows my mind is when I look out at the water, and all I see is water, as far as the eye can see. The length and vastness of that distance is almost unmeasurable to me. And when I think about the length and distance of the ocean, it always makes me think about how greater the distance is that God has removed our sins. 

Our past hurts and hangups don’t have to direct our lives. God has forgiven even the hardest, darkest, most hidden sins. There is no condition. No “if you do x,y,z then I will forgive you.” His love for you is so deep that He forgives. Not only have been forgiven, but we have been ​completely forgiven!​ He doesn’t look back and hold something against you, He erases it. So you may have been reading this today and thought that you were too broken, too far away, or too sinful for God to choose to forgive you. You may have thought that this label of forgiveness is for everyone else except for you. Let me tell you, God wants to forgive YOU. You are not too far gone, your sin is not too bad, your past is not too shameful. He forgives you. Your label is FORGIVEN. 

Let’s live in the freedom of knowing that our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west, and there’s no going back to them! We have been completely forgiven and we are now free.​ So right now here’s your challenge - walk in freedom! Take some time today to thank God for loving you so much that He forgave. Then, the same way He forgave you, forgive others! Don’t let other people walk with the label of Unforgiven when we know - Forgiveness comes from Jesus.