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Daily Christian Encouragement

He Wants To, He Can, and He Does

October 20, 2026

See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God...

(1 John 3:1 NASB)

These three phrases: He wants to, He can, and He does, are all completely true when it comes to God's forgiveness of us. And yet many of us struggle believing one or some of them.

He Wants To: The famous John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world..." Friends, why do you think that this love doesn't extend to you? What attribute excludes you from His love? One of Jesus' 12 closest friends denied Him three times standing just a few yards away, only hours after promising he would never do that. This friend was forgiven and restored because that's what Jesus wanted to do, and it's what He wants to do for all of us, for every human in the world. That same disciple would go on to write, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) Jesus loves you with the same measure He loved Peter. We are all His creation, each one of us precious to Him and lost, like a ring down the drain. He wants you back enough for Jesus to die in your place.

He Can: The blood of Jesus is more powerful than your worst sin, more powerful than 10,000 lifetimes of the worst sins you could commit. What possible sin could overpower even a single drop of the majestic, glorious, perfect blood of the Son of God? You aren't special enough to out-sin God's power to forgive you. It's an act of pride to think your sin so mighty that you can wrestle against God and win. Give up your "I'm too terrible" drama baloney. You're not too anything that the mighty God cannot save you.

He Does: When we kneel before the cross, making Him our Lord, when we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts, we are in that moment completely saved: all sins - past, present, and future - are nailed to the cross, and the righteousness of Christ is draped over our shoulders. We are made into something completely new, never to be the old thing again. Stop doubting and questioning! Your future sins might put awkwardness in your relationship with Him, but never again will they separate you from Him. "Jesus said to him, 'He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet; otherwise he is completely clean. And you are clean...'" (John 13:10)

Consider: