This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Power to Forgive.
"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house."
— Luke 5:24 (KJV)
Imagine the scene in that crowded house. A paralyzed man is lowered through the ceiling, desperate for physical healing. But Jesus addresses his deepest need first, saying, "thy sins are forgiven thee." To prove He had the divine authority to do so, Jesus performs a visible miracle, telling the man to stand up, pick up his bed, and walk home.
This miracle makes one thing undeniably clear: only Jesus has the power to wash away our sins.
Yet, we often fall into the trap of looking elsewhere for peace. We seek forgiveness through human systems, empty church rituals, or self-help formulas. But these are dry wells. No man, no routine, and no book can cleanse a human soul—only Jesus can.
And it is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to this beautiful truth. The Holy Spirit’s primary mission is to always point us directly to Jesus.
Today, many people chase after dramatic spiritual experiences, claiming they are of the Holy Spirit. But we must test these moments with honest questions: Did those experiences bring you to a deep, reverent fear of God? Did they anchor your faith in Jesus alone, and inspire you to follow His teachings alone? If a spiritual experience doesn’t lead you directly to Christ and His Word, then it is not from His Spirit.
If you are carrying the heavy weight of sin today, or if you’ve been distracted by empty religious forms, stop looking to the world. Simply come to Jesus with an honest heart. Talk to Him directly. Seek His forgiveness, and let His power set you free.
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sovereign power to forgive and heal. Forgive us for the times we have looked to empty rituals or human efforts to cleanse our hearts. Holy Spirit, keep our spiritual vision clear. Guide us away from counterfeits and draw us close to the feet of Jesus today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.