No Fishing Allowed

Hi, and welcome to another daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional.

Today's reading titled No Fishing Allowed was written by Amy Boucher-Pye. Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom knew the importance of forgiveness. In her book Tramp for the Lord, she says her favorite mental picture was of forgiven sins thrown into the sea. She said, When we confess our sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever.

I believe God then places a sign out there that says, No Fishing Allowed. She points to an important truth that believers in Jesus can sometimes fail to grasp. When God forgives our wrongdoing, we're forgiven fully. We don't have to keep dredging up our shameful deeds wallowing in any mucky feelings. Rather, we can accept His grace and forgiveness, following Him in freedom.

We see this idea of No Fishing Allowed in Psalm 130. The psalmist proclaims that although God is just, He forgives the sin of those who repent. But with you, there is forgiveness. As the psalmist waits for God putting his trust in him, he states in faith that he himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Those who believe will find full redemption. When we're caught in feelings of shame and unworthiness, we can't serve God with our whole hearts.

Instead, we're restricted by our past. If you feel stymied by the wrong you've done, ask God to help you fully believe in His gift of forgiveness and new life. He's cast your sins into the ocean.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is Psalm 130. Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord, Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you, there is forgiveness so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord. My whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.

More than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Let's pray. Forgiving God, you sent your Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins and shame. We thank you that we no longer have to live under the burden of guilt. Help us to live in the freedom of being fully forgiven. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.