Tuesday - Ready to Pardon

Nehemiah 9:16 – “But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,”

Nehemiah 9:17 – “And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”

I love that phrase in verse 17, "ready to pardon." God didn't have to be talked into forgiving Israel. He wasn't reluctant. He was ready the moment they turned back.

And remember who He was ready to pardon. These were people who actually appointed a captain to go back to Egypt. Think about that. God delivered them from bondage, and they wanted to return to it. But before we judge them too harshly, let me ask you what I asked Sunday. How many times has God delivered you from something, only for you to go right back to it? We ask Him to forgive us, then return to the same sin. We promise we'll change, and fall right back. We are all just as guilty.

Here's where we get it wrong. We think we have to make ourselves worthy before we come back to God. So we promise to do better. We try to prove we've changed. We punish ourselves because we still feel guilty. But listen. You will never make yourself worthy of pardon. If you were worthy, you wouldn't need one. Pardon is for guilty people. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

That doesn't make sin less serious. It makes grace more amazing.

Think about it: Is there anything you've been trying to clean up before bringing it to God? What does "ready to pardon" tell you about His heart toward you right now?