I recently purchased the NIV "Women’s Devotional Bible," and I must say that it is definitely one of my wisest purchases. I try to set aside at least a few minutes every day to dive into the scripture. However, my King James Version just wasn’t given me what I needed. I was seeking some guidance to apply to the daily struggles we all face in life and I wasn’t finding it there. So, the Amazon search began and I came across the Women’s Devotional Bible. It is just what I needed. The devotionals have all been extremely helpful, but a couple weeks ago I found one that was exactly what I was searching for. I have a crazy, hectic schedule and I often take on more than I can handle. I get stressed and feel guilty if something doesn’t get done just right, or if the kitchen floor doesn’t get swept, or if Kevin is home on the weekend and I have committed my time to something other than spending time with him. This devotional “Not Guilty” has been extremely helpful as I work on trying to worry less with these small things. Just thought I really needed to share something so inspirational to me.
Not Guilty
Isn’t it painful to harm others unintentionally? Premeditated evils can’t be set right by our finite sense of justice, even if guilt then rests on our own head. But imagine the fear and frustration of being held accountable for hundreds of violations that you committed without knowing it. Nothing you ever did would be good enough; you would carry around the guilt of wrongs you never intended to commit. Talk about paranoia.
Yet in Old Testament times, you would certainly have been guilty of such unwitting sins, and they would have required blood sacrifice. The Law of God was clear; no one could be good enough, not even those who sinned without awareness, unintentionally. Few of us think of sin in these terms today, but God remains the same. His standard of perfection cannot be attained, even by the best of us on our best day.
The sacrifices of the Old Testament foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus Christ. When Jesus offered himself on the cross, he paid the debt of sin in full. He declared his followers “not guilty.” The law was fulfilled. We no longer need the sacrifice of a ram to cleanse us from the sins we knowingly commit or the sins we intentionally commit. No other blood sacrifice will ever be required.
Women today are often burdened by guilt. We are inundated with “should” and “oughts.” We feel guilty if we work; guilty if we don’t; guilty for not spending enough time with our husbands, kids and friends; and guilty for not taking time for God and ourselves. We have a hard time knowing when we’re really guilty and when we suffer from false guilt. But Jesus’ declaration from the cross that we are not guilty covers all our sins-even the unintentional ones. Instead of blood sacrifice, we can make offerings of gratitude: repentance, praise and service.
We all both unintentionally and intentionally wrong God and others. But Jesus Christ bought our forgiveness on the cross. Offer him the sacrifice of confession, and you’ll be covered for overlooking the things you should have done and the things you ought not have. Then pour out the sacrifice of praise. Present the sacrifice of service, helping others in God’s name, for “love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Despair has no place here; our advocate perfectly kept even the hidden laws.
