Our Daily Bread DEC 7
Guilt Removed / By: Asiri Fernando See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away.
Isaiah 6:7
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Isaiah 6:1–7 (NIV):
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
For many years, Deepika carried a heavy burden of guilt over the way she had treated her younger sister when they were young. Although she had apologised to her sister who had forgiven her, she still felt guilty.
Isaiah 6:1-5 records how Isaiah saw a vision of God and was overcome by guilt over his sinfulness. But as the coal from the altar touched his lips, he heard the comforting words: “Your guilt is taken away” (v.7). The coals in the temple altar were often covered by the blood of recently-slaughtered lambs that foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus. When the Lamb of God died on the cross, our sin and guilt were transferred to Him (1 Peter 2:24). We are guilty when we commit a crime or sin, for which we deserve condemnation. With this also comes the feeling of guilt. Even the most devout Christians struggle with this feeling when they do something wrong. Guilt can be healthy when it convicts us and leads us to repentance. But dwelling in guilt after we have been forgiven can take away our freedom. The beautiful truth of the gospel is that Christ removes our condemnation, so we can be totally free from the burden of guilt. Let’s rejoice that because of Jesus, we no longer need to feel guilty nor dwell in shame. We are forgiven!
Today’s Hymns:
And Can It Be That I Should Gain？
Rolled Away Rolled Away
Scripture to Respond:
1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.
Reflection
What makes you feel guilty? If you have already confessed and repented, how do you, by grasping God’s promise, recognize that He has forgiven you through Jesus, removed all your guilt and allowed you come to His Throne boldly?
Prayer:
Jesus, give me faith to believe You have removed all my sins by Your sacrifice on the cross and I don’t need to feel guilty. Thank You for Your Grace of forgiveness.
Wong Wai Tung (Chief executive officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) & Sam Chow (Administrative officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) Translated by Esther Leung
