When planning past family trips to Tennessee, I have scoured the internet for the coziest cabin with the perfect, unobstructed view of the mountains. Searching for a home with giant windows and all the amenities, I have perused each photo listed to ensure no other buildings or rentals were in sight. Unfortunately, our family’s meager budget dictated the final decision, and we had to settle on a spot that did not meet all these expectations.
Once we arrived, I would go to the windows or the porch to fully take in the breathtaking scenery. Without fail, directly in front of or below me sat a run-down shack, multiple cabins undergoing construction, or a busy neighborhood that had somehow evaded the rental website photos. The mountains in the distance truly were gorgeous; yet, in order to enjoy the view of God’s perfect creation, I had to overlook all the manmade structures directly in my line of sight.
I cannot help but think of all of the mess I have created throughout my life thus far, and the great effort it must be for God to overlook my offenses. Long periods of time sweep by in which I make multiple bad decisions and create a junk pile of sin before I stop and realize just how large and unsightly my rubbish heap has become. When that moment happens, I am embarrassed and ashamed, and I often attempt to find a way to remove all the damage. Try as I might, I cannot hide or remove it on my own. In God’s unfailing mercy, He completely looks past my sin to see His creation. Because His Son died to remove all of my sin and because I have asked Him to be my Savior, God sees the finished work of Jesus in my life. What a hard concept for this perfectionist to grasp! Believing (subconsciously) that I might be able to work diligently enough to avoid mistakes and thus avoid the need for forgiveness or salvation, I rely on my own power and limited capabilities. How arrogant I am! I am entirely incapable of being or doing good on my own. The difficulty of this concept lies in the simplicity of it. When I fall on my face and ruin everything, I have the great benefit of simply telling my Father about the trouble I have caused and handing it over to Him to repair.
Though the sin is removed, consequences of my decisions may remain, causing my life to look differently than God’s original plan. Thus, I am also in need of others overlooking the mistakes I have made. What a humbling realization! Friends and family members must step to the side of the rubbish heap I have created in order to see any value and maintain a relationship with me. How thankful I am for the people in my life who have chosen to do so! May God help me to extend the same grace to others. In fact, my word for the new year is “overlook.”
Father, thank You for overlooking my offenses to see the merciful work of Jesus in my life. I am completely undeserving and have piled up so many offenses that it is no small wonder You have chosen to forgive me. Help me to always bring my sins before You, trusting in Your power alone to accomplish any good in my life. May I never attempt to hide my sin from You. Lord, please help me to overlook the offenses of others, extending grace and forgiveness as I follow Your example. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11
“Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.”
Psalm 103