I’m amazed by the continual grace that God shows us. Have you noticed how often you repeat the same sins over and over again? I sure do. Yet God forgives me every time… even if it’s the millionth time I’ve done it.

I love the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 25:2 caught my attention: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”

I’m not sure what “matter” Solomon had in mind when he wrote this, but my mind immediately went to sins and faults. God so graciously forgives our sins. He doesn’t just forgive them, He removes them (Psalm 103:12). When something is removed, it’s gone. You don’t see it and when you don’t see it, you don’t think about it. That’s what God has done with our sin.

Contrast that with people (kings), who are prone to continually throw our sins or faults back in our faces. We’ve all done it. We forgive someone – and may genuinely mean it – but the memory isn’t as kind. The offenses keep coming back up in our minds and, when provoked, we often lash out and drag that old offense up.

Yet if we’re to be Christ-like, we need to truly let those things go, “conceal” them once the issue has been dealt with and the offense forgiven. I’m not saying we shouldn’t address sin or the barriers they create with those around us, but once repentance has happened and forgiveness has been offered, we must let it go. God has forgiven us; how can we do any less? (Matthew 18:21-35)