The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame. (Zephaniah 3:5) Dear Lord, we want You to find a yielded and quiet spirit within us. To make that happen, we need You to come in like a flood. Occupy us like water filling empty spaces.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Forgiveness
Forgive Our Trespasses
“Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets.” (Daniel 9:8–10)
Read MoreFor Controlling Our Words
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. (James 3:5-6) Our Father, our tongues are far too often wicked and out of control! We have breached confidences that were meant to be held in trust.
Read MoreFinding Justice in Injustice
And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. I thought in my heart,
“God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked; for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 NIV)
Determination
THOSE WHO REFUSE to get bogged down in and anchored to the past are those who pursue the objectives of the future. People who do this are never petty. They are too involved in getting a job done to be preoccupied with yesterday’s hurts and today’s disappointments. Do you need some fresh encouragement to press on today? Read Paul’s testimony:
Read MoreLearned Contentment
Paul recommends an attitude of unselfish humility. Quite remarkably, you never read where Paul said to his Roman guard, “I need you to do me a favor. . .”
Read MoreForgive Them
“Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Jesus managed to utter those penetrating words through bleeding, cracked lips, swollen from the noonday sun. Impaled on that cruel, Roman cross, He interceded on behalf of His enemies.
Read MoreGod’s Justice
I find at least two enduring truths for us as I think through these closing scenes in Job’s story. First, forgiveness is worth asking for. If there’s something that has come between you and your heavenly Father, why wait at a distance?
Read MoreA Profound Plan
That’s what makes the climax of Job’s life so satisfying. This dear man, who never deserved the suffering he endured, is dealt with justly. And those who made his life so miserable weren’t overlooked either.
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