“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galations 3:26-27

Summer is just around the corner. Over here in the camp ministry world, we are hiring the last summer staff positions. Please pray for a camp nurse and camp cook!! I am hoping to NOT be running the camp kitchen this year. I’m qualified, but it is not in my wiring. I AM hoping to be home more with my littles, keeping my house in order and preparing for next year’s home-school year. That is my hope for this summer.

And my prayer for this ministry season? That as our cabins and chapel services are filled with people, young and old, that each heart will understand who they are and live it out. It might sound deep, but I’m not talking about “finding yourself.” I’m talking about “knowing yourself.” You see, the saddest thing I hear anyone say, after hearing a chapel about how God loves them and wants them to come to Him for forgiveness, is that they just don’t believe God could forgive them. How can He, when they can’t forgive themselves?

The thing is, in a world of qualifications, we aren’t qualified to forgive ourselves! Show me one Bible verse that says it is our responsibility, right, or ability to forgive ourselves? What would that gain us? And where does the Bible say it is for us to decide what God can and can’t do? That’s a lie from the enemy. Don’t kid yourself.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

The Bible tells us that it is God’s job to forgive us. Jesus earned the qualifications to do so when he accepted the punishment for our sins. He was “perfected” in His suffering. (Hebrews 5:8-9)

It is our responsibility to believe Him. He said it is done. (Luke 23:34, John 19:30)

It is our responsibility to forgive others as we have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32)

Be glad that in this one thing, you are not and cannot ever be qualified…it’s not possible to forgive yourself of your sins. You can feel better about yourself, but you cannot change the condition of your soul.

Unwrap the gift. Believe that you are made new. Believe who He says you are: His Beloved.

Believing God will open your heart to soak up all kinds of love that has been poured out over you. You may see it for the first time, but it has been available all along. You will find you have enough in reserve to love on someone else.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a

Images by Sasin Tipchai & Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay