No Longer Hindered

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (Luke 5:23, 24 NIV)

Forgiveness is about change.  Change is hard.  Even good change.  Sometimes, especially good change.  So much of our sin is more about comfort than about wanting to do evil.

I find it interesting that most of the instances in the gospels where Jesus utters the words "Your sins are forgiven," someone is physically healed of a limitation he or she has lived with a long time... blindness, leprosy, issue of blood, paralysis.  And what huge change the healings call for.  They can no longer be beggars.  They have to go out into the world to be productive.  They can no longer blame their maladies for their lack of contribution to their community.

I think many of us hold on to our sins and refuse forgiveness because we don't like the kind of change forgiveness would demand of us.  Not only would it force us out of our comfort zones, but it would take away our excuses for not living our lives to their fullest.

Forgiveness demands a response.  It demands that we turn away from the comfort of that sin.  It demands that we begin doing the things that sin has kept us from doing.  It demands a newer and fuller life.

Sometimes it's just easier to refuse forgiveness and wallow in our sin.  But if we take hold of that forgiveness and allow ourselves to be healed we have so much more in store for us... a full, abundant live that is no longer hindered by blindness and paralysis.

Lord Jesus,
Forgive us and heal us and give us the courage to accept your forgivenss and healing and grab hold of new and exciting lives.  Amen.