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“You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." – Micah 7:19
“It’s time for you to all be honest in your actions, thoughts and prayers”, she said to her class after someone had taken $20 from the money jar. The class had spent the last week gathering quarters, dimes and nickels to help an anonymous family in the area that had fallen on hard times, keep the electricity on for another month. The jar had been filled near the top with coins, so the teacher took the jar to the local bank and converted some of the coins into bills to make more room in the jar to continue the collection. Not a single student came forward and admitted to taking the money, which disappointed the teacher greatly. It wasn’t that she was angry with the class for their dishonesty, she was more heartbroken that one of them had stolen from the charity. By the end of the week, the collection had slowed down. On Friday, the teacher called an end to the collection and thanked all of the students for their generosity and loving gifts to support another family. “Is there anyone who would like to make a final donation?” the teacher asked as she reached into her purse, took out a crisp $20 bill, folded it and put it into the jar.
Jimmy had taken the $20 for lunch money because his single mother did not have anything to give him that week. He felt incredibly bad about his actions, but did not come forward and left the classroom that day filled with feelings of guilt and shame having watched the teacher put her own $20 into the jar to replace what he had taken out. He arrived home that night and went straight to his room with tear filled eyes and cried himself to sleep. He was awakened by the sounds of adult conversation in the living room. He stepped out into the hallway as he heard his mother crying and saying, “Thank You, Thank You….I’ll pay you back I promise.” Jimmy froze and listened when he heard his teacher’s voice, saying, “No, it is a gift from my class. Please, don’t tell Jimmy though, it can be our secret.”
Jimmy had taken the $20 for lunch money because his single mother did not have anything to give him that week. He felt incredibly bad about his actions, but did not come forward and left the classroom that day filled with feelings of guilt and shame having watched the teacher put her own $20 into the jar to replace what he had taken out. He arrived home that night and went straight to his room with tear filled eyes and cried himself to sleep. He was awakened by the sounds of adult conversation in the living room. He stepped out into the hallway as he heard his mother crying and saying, “Thank You, Thank You….I’ll pay you back I promise.” Jimmy froze and listened when he heard his teacher’s voice, saying, “No, it is a gift from my class. Please, don’t tell Jimmy though, it can be our secret.”
The Lord is going to bless you. Do you believe this to be true? Do you believe that God has infinite love for you and will pour out blessings upon you, more than you can handle? God is not angry with you, even though there are times in our lives when it seems as though He is pouring out His anger upon you and your life is spiraling out of control. He does hold anger against the sins of the world, including the sins that capture your attention and heart’s desire. God is a jealous God and will not stand for our sinful nature, because it is not acceptable in His perfect kingdom. This is the depth of His love for you though. He so desires for you to be with Him in heaven, to the point of pain and suffering over it. His love is demonstrated in John 3:16 which we all know to proclaim, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Unfortunately, most of you could quote that scripture, but do you truly take it to heart? Your sins will keep you from heaven. This was not acceptable to God the Father, so He took it upon Himself to provide a way for your sins to be covered. He paid the price and it cannot be paid back. There is nothing you can do to repay God for what He has given up for your sins. The guilt and shame you feel over your sinful nature is washed clean by the acceptance of Jesus Christ and repentance (turning away from the sin). What can you do that is not covered by Christ’s blood and the grace of God? The scriptures tell us that there is one and only one thing and that is the rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In Matthew 10:33, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”
Micah wrote of God’s redeeming grace 700 years before Christ was born. His prophetic message speaks of God’s compassion and mercy, and a way to lift us above our sins of which all will be cast into the sea. God’s plan for this compassion and mercy was the giving of His Son to die for your sins. Put your faith and trust in Him as the path of salvation and trust in His love as pure and eternal.
Unfortunately, most of you could quote that scripture, but do you truly take it to heart? Your sins will keep you from heaven. This was not acceptable to God the Father, so He took it upon Himself to provide a way for your sins to be covered. He paid the price and it cannot be paid back. There is nothing you can do to repay God for what He has given up for your sins. The guilt and shame you feel over your sinful nature is washed clean by the acceptance of Jesus Christ and repentance (turning away from the sin). What can you do that is not covered by Christ’s blood and the grace of God? The scriptures tell us that there is one and only one thing and that is the rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In Matthew 10:33, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”
Micah wrote of God’s redeeming grace 700 years before Christ was born. His prophetic message speaks of God’s compassion and mercy, and a way to lift us above our sins of which all will be cast into the sea. God’s plan for this compassion and mercy was the giving of His Son to die for your sins. Put your faith and trust in Him as the path of salvation and trust in His love as pure and eternal.
Prayer:Almighty God,
You have cast our sins as far as the East is from the West. You have created in us a new heart that will beat for You. Through Your grace we are giving a place in eternity where sin will no longer reign. Help us to live in repentance of our sinful nature. Give us the strength to overcome the sin in our life and turn from it, to trust in Your loving, compassionate salvation. In Your name we pray - Amen
You have cast our sins as far as the East is from the West. You have created in us a new heart that will beat for You. Through Your grace we are giving a place in eternity where sin will no longer reign. Help us to live in repentance of our sinful nature. Give us the strength to overcome the sin in our life and turn from it, to trust in Your loving, compassionate salvation. In Your name we pray - Amen
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