“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“...that you may have peace...” The word “may” in the original Greek language is echo. It implies that someone is “to have and to hold” a thing. Sound familiar? In a traditional marriage ceremony, each person echoes a vow to have and to hold one another as if they are one entity.
Dear believer in Jesus Christ, God has forgiven you. He has made peace with you through Christ so He can have you and hold you. As your Heavenly Father, He has vowed Himself to you throughout scripture. Christ will never leave those who entrust their lives to Him (John 14:16, Matthew 28:20). Because of Jesus, you are completely forgiven and now one with God.
The way God views you is fundamentally different than before you placed your trust in Christ, but only because for “our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).
Since you have been forgiven, saved, born again, redeemed, and justified, God, knows you as He intended – a reflection of His Son!
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus...” (Ephesians 2:10)
Seeing through your Heavenly Father’s eyes, forgiven and free in Christ, changes how you experience life. His forgiveness gives you permission to forgive yourself and have peace.
Being one with Him empowers you to forgive others and brings healing to your soul.
As you see yourself through God’s eyes, completely forgiven, may peace echo the Lord Jesus’ vow to have you and hold you forever. He has indeed overcome your sin. Be encouraged, He has overcome even the world.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for rescuing me. Thank You for Your perpetual forgiveness and for making me Your child. I believe You forgive me, so who am I to withhold mercy from myself and others? I humbly ask for the grace to see and forgive as You do. It is in Jesus Christ that I pray. Amen