By: Pastor Jarren Rogers

“Grace is absolute, inflexible, all-encompassing.” – Philip Yancey

Sin can feel like a great weight on our shoulders. It appears to us like a scar on our heart, a mark on our permanent record. It feels as if evil has dumped its luggage on our living room floor and made itself at home. We feel guilty and ashamed. We sit in church with a knot in our stomach. I’m not like these people. They don’t know what I’ve done.

We want to approach the throne of God but we are reluctant. Like a hesitant child approaching their parents after they’ve done something wrong, we are slow to go to God in prayer. This is the same trap I’ve fallen into over and over again. He’s forgiven me a countless number of times.

Can I remind you today of Romans 5:20?

“Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

Your sin will never bring you to a point where God will refuse to forgive you. You can never be beyond the reach of God’s grace. His grace is bigger than any situation you’ve found yourself in, any temptation you’ve fallen into (again), and any violation of His will. Your sin will never take you where God’s grace is not there to bring you back.

I think about that line from the song “What a Beautiful Name” by Hillsong.

My sin was great, Your love was greater.

God will forgive you. No matter how many times you’ve committed the same transgression, no matter how bad your actions were, no matter how long you’ve waited to seek His mercy. God will forgive us if we come to Him with a repentant and honest heart.

I know that it feels like you’re the only one who carries the baggage of sin when you’re sitting in church. But it’s not true. We’re all in the same boat. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and we’re all trying to follow God with our whole hearts. But it’s hard. We all have struggles. We all have pitfalls. We all mess up. It’s part of life.

God never wants you to hesitate coming into His throne room. Allow Him to remove the weight of sin from your shoulders. Let Him set your heart free from the bondage of sin once more. God wants to evict the evil in your life and toss its bags out the door. Give Him your guilt. Give Him your shame.

Feel the soothing wash of His grace cleanse your soul once more.

Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.

Parents: Read your children this verse from Romans 5. Ask them what they think it means. Explain to them that our sin can never bring us past the reach of God’s grace.