Catch and Release

Catch and Release

I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more (V.12).

Hebrews 8: 7-13

Reading

There are a few fishing ponds near where I live. Anyone with a fishing licence is welcome to go and fish for as long as they want. There is just one rule: “catch and release”. This means any fish that are caught have to then be returned to the pond. No one can take the fish home with them. These ponds remind me of a sermon I once heard. We were told that God throws our wrongdoings into a sea of forgetfulness and then sticks a “No Fishing” sign up to stop us reliving them.

God knows the things we’ve done wrong (HEB. 8:8). But He says He will “remember [our] sins no more” (V.12). Our all-knowing God may not forget our wrongs in the way our human minds understand forgetfulness. Instead, His Son Jesus’ death on the cross washes our record of wrongdoing away, to no longer be held against us. Unlike the ponds near me, we’re not invited to fish in God’s ponds of our forgiven wrongs. He warns us against it but doesn’t stop us if we insist on revisiting stuff we’ve done wrong (ISA. 43:18). Even though we don’t need to, we sometimes go fishing for our old regrets anyway. When we ‘catch’ one, let’s quickly throw it back into the waters of forgiveness, trusting that God no longer holds it against us.

What I’m Thankful for…

Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Your life for me so I can be forgiven. I’m sorry for the times I dig up my old wrongs. Please help me to move on in Your love.

GOD’S FORGIVENESS LASTS FOREVER

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries