“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

We’ve been thinking of the Apostle Paul the last few days. He called himself ‘last’ when it came to the Apostleship because he persecuted the church of God. While this never was wiped from his memory, he no longer clung to it, no longer held on to it. He was forgiven by the Lord God. Therefore he pressed on to strongly finish the race set before Him. Marcus wept in the counselor’s office. Holding his head in his hands, he sobbed, pouring out his heart to the Biblical counselor. “Everyone thinks I am so good. I have sinned so much, and I know that God has forgiven me. But how do I begin to forgive myself? I am the worst sinner in the world,” he said in words just above a whisper. The wise counselor put his arm around the shoulder of Marcus and said, “Marcus, I can help you by sharing with you what the Lord says to you. Are you willing to believe God and accept what He says?” Poor Marcus! He was sobbing so intensely that all he could do was shake his head in the affirmative. More about this tomorrow.

For today: Are you like Marcus? Are there things for which you need to accept what God says and then forgive yourself?