Today’s 333 Devotional: “The Vitality of Forgiveness (2)”

 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:2-3).

Notice it says that forgiveness proceeds healing.

We see a beautiful example of this when Jesus healed the paralyzed man. Jesus forgave the man saying, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20). But Pharisees objected saying only God can forgive sins.

To this Jesus said, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk?’” (Luke 5:23)

Jesus then said to the paralyzed man, “Arise, take up your bed and go home” (Luke 5:24). The man immediately was healed, rose, and went home giving God the glory.

Physical, emotional, and spiritual health often comes when forgiveness is sought for and acquired from the Lord.

King David, who was well acquainted with the consequences of sin, said that when he tried to hide his sin, he experienced all sorts of problems.

“When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4)

David understood that when he hid his sins from God, his health deteriorated as a consequence. But when He confessed his sins to God, everything turned around.

Much of our health depends upon seeking and receiving God’s forgiveness, and we can be assured that when we ask to be forgiven, God forgives.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Modern medicine has also found that forgiveness helps relieve physical ailments and helps treat diseases.

What can help us forgive? It’s realizing how much God has forgiven us, and it’s based upon our decision to obey God.

Therefore, we cannot afford to hold grudges and bitterness towards others. When we do, we pay with our health.