Forget About It

When you’re in Christ,

You’re more forgiven than you know.

Jesus’ first words from the cross prove it:

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

(Luke 23:34)

You’re forgiven for the sins that you forgot,

That you never did spot.

Forgiven for all the times when you did it wrong

While thinking you were doing it right.

Let’s face it—

We aren’t smart enough to decipher

All our thoughts and acts.

We aren’t keen enough to recognize

All our nitpicking mistakes.

And we just don’t have the stamina to list

All our multitudinous iniquities.

So, we best not try,

Lest, Martin Luther-like,

We find ourselves cowering in the corner

Of our monk’s cell,

Wasting our lives in self-condemnation.

I bless you to relish and rejoice

In the forgiving, cleansing power of the cross,

Wherein God forgave you

For …

…who knows what.