God and Me: Devotions from Time of GraceНамуна

God and My Guilt

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" muttered the sleepwalking Lady Macbeth, restlessly rubbing her hands as though to wash away the guilt of her conspiracy to murder. What invisible stains are on your hands? What have they stolen? What have they damaged? Whom have they hurt? What good things have they omitted doing?

People try all sorts of behaviors to stop feeling their guilt. They stay obsessively busy. They distract themselves with constant amusements. They try to work it off with good deeds. They rationalize away responsibility. They blame other people. They sedate themselves with drugs or alcohol or food. But guess what? Nothing works.

Except this: accepting responsibility for your own sins against God, and this: embracing the gift of the forgiveness of your sins through the payment made by Jesus Christ on his cross of Calvary. A great sinner named David gave you words to say in prayer: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalm 51:1,2).

What guilt are you dragging around right now? Want to be rid of it? Admit your responsibility, let Jesus have it, and serve him anew with a clear conscience.