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Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

There is one thing we will never be short of. There may be shortages of gas, or food, or money, but there will never be a shortage of people who are ready, willing and able to condemn us for something.

Sometimes, if we are honest, we get accused of things that are really pretty accurate. If you are like me you say things that you really wished you hadn’t said, or found a better time and way to say the things you needed to say.

Other times, however, people seem to line up ready to put us down for everything from the way we do our jobs to the clothes we wear. There will never be a shortage of people who find fault with us.

The whole eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Roman believers centers on one theme. We are not condemned! With Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we are not answerable to anyone but him. He owns us. When we sin, and we will, he is the one we must confess our sins to. Do we ask forgiveness to the one we’ve harmed? Yes, of course. But sometimes people we ask forgiveness to like to keep reminding us of our faults. We don’t need to listen to that.

People may refuse to forgive us in order to hold us captive. In Jesus we have freedom. Not only did he die for you and rise from the dead so you could live. He goes before the Father on a daily basis to pray for you and to plead your case before God himself.

Do you have someone in your life that is holding you captive by reminding you of your fault? Are you bound by a guilty conscience for the things you’ve done in your past or the people you’ve hurt either intentionally or unintentionally? Today is the day to be free!

Jesus died for all of your sins once. There’s no need to keep killing yourself. Confess your sins to him. Ask forgiveness of others when needed. Then let go of the guilt and condemnation you and others put on yourself. In Jesus, you are free! When you live your life with a clear conscience before Christ you won’t be bound by the fickle emotions of those around you.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus. We both know I’ve made a lot of bad choices in my life. I’ve hurt people, done my own selfish things and not given you the praise you deserve. There are plenty of people around me who are willing to show me my faults and remind me of my failures. I give all that ugliness over to you. I release the pain they have caused in my life into your hands. Forgive me for my past sins. Help me when possible to seek the forgiveness of those I’ve harmed. Empower me with your Spirit to live in the freedom only you can give. Thank you for praying for me. In your name, Amen.