Forgiving and Excusing

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality…asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. 

 

But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. 

 

Forgiveness says 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology...' 

 

But excusing says 'I see that you couldn't help it or don't mean it; you weren't really to blame.' 

 

If we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. 

 

They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied with ourselves.

 

 

 

Jessica Little Castleberry