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Posts Tagged ‘forgiveness’

Thankful for Your Never-Ending Grace

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on December 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, December 16, 2024

Lord, who are we fooling? Can we stop lying to ourselves, believing we’re above those sins that cause others to stumble? After years of following you, Lord, some “pious” saints see themselves as “Super Christians.” Some believe you will seek their advice before making a major move in the world. Sadly, some seasoned Christ followers often become lazy in daily devotions and prayers. Ignoring the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we tend to choose who we will befriend and shun those whom we consider a lost cause. Our misguided natural judgment determines who we will share your message of grace,and forgiveness. Busyness and the cares of living in this fallen world can cause us to forget how we were once a “lost sheep” and in need of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1–21).

Forgive me, Lord, for harboring such an attitude. Everyone needs daily forgiveness, especially seasoned saints. Unless we—unbelievers, new believers, seasoned saints— recognize ourselves as by nature lost sheep, we will never surpass our need for forgiveness. No matter how much we grow in the knowledge of you, Lord, or however much we allow your Spirit to change us, we will never outgrow the need for your grace. Living in this fallen world, we will also never outgrow our tendency to sin. Scriptures records how even your apostles still battled their sin nature. Fortunately, they gave us instructions how to keep this lifelong nature in check (Romans 3–8; Ephesians 6:13–17).

Lord, as your representatives here, as we go about our day, help us live in your grace and forgiveness. May we extend the same to those in our world.

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful the Old Life is No More

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on December 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, December 6, 2024

Lord, he must have been miserable. Did the psalmist try to stay constantly busy so his mind wouldn’t dwell on what he used to have? If only he could shake those memories of what used to be. But you wouldn’t allow it. Not for one moment did you let up until he came to his senses.

It started as just a little sin—no big deal. After all, who doesn’t sin, right? But before he knew it, this “no big deal” sin metastasized into something he couldn’t control. Sin’s crushing grip on the psalmist led to more despair and hopelessness.

One day he woke and wondered how did I get so far from God? What am I doing here in this mire of sin and shame? I’ve become a pariah to what friends I have left, a laughingstock among the community. The psalmist had no other option but to confess his foolishness in walking away from you, humble himself and seek your forgiveness.

Later, in moments of peace and sanity, he recorded his emotions during those dark times.

“My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” Psalm (42:4 NLT)

Prayerfully, future generations would heed his warning. Prayerfully, Lord, future generations would know your mercy as well.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! (verse 5).

Lord, when we’re tempted to see our past sins as something other than shameful and embarrassing, help us keep our focus on you. Life with you, Lord Jesus, is much more fulfilling. Amen.

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Thankful to Be Honest with You, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
November 1,2024

Lord, the psalmist finally understood how your act of grace wiped his many sins from his sin record. He must have felt the heavy burden of guilt lift from his soul. The exposure of his secret sins must have haunted his every waking moment. The fear his deceptions, his half-truths, his sins of omission now lay forever buried in God’s sea of forgetfulness. Such a relief to know his sin record held no evidence against him. After making restitutions with those he wronged, with a heart free of guilt and fear, he penned these famous words:

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalm 32:1,2 NLT).

Honesty. Complete honesty. Countless times, the psalmist might have twisted the facts concerning his sin to justify his actions. With his record now wiped clean by your grace, the psalmist began his new life of complete honesty. Living in truth in all matters would bring the rewarding life of peace with you and others that the psalmist needed.

Lord, come to think of it, that is the kind of life I desire as well. As a former race car driver, a life of complete honesty is what I need. A non-worry life of complete honesty with you, others, and myself. No more half-truths. No more tangled webs of deceptions we cannot talk ourselves out of. Instead, more peace. More joy amid problems. More freedom to love you. More freedom to become who you created us to be.

Yes, Lord, that my life might honor you as I am determined to live in complete honesty. Amen, Jesus!

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Thankful to be Swept

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on July 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, July 29, 2024

Lord, you can save anyone. Throughout history, folks with different backgrounds have come to you for forgiveness once they understood the power of your grace. Whether they’re good, moral people, or the scourges of society, once they understand your grace, they are redeemed to a new life. Skeptics argue many “degenerates” have gone too far into sin. Forget forgiveness. They have too much wickedness on their record.

On the other hand, multitudes have come to you in repentance whom society considered as good and decent people, ideal citizens. Being self-righteous, they religiously kept the “rules” but did not know you personally as the one who offers forgiveness and eternal life.

Lord, from those who never give you a second thought, to the self-righteous of all religious stripes and shapes, to those hostile to message of salvation and hold with contempt Christ followers as weak and deceived, all have this in common:

Lord, your overwhelming power to save the most sinful among us means no one is beyond redemption when they turn to you in repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Scripture details you went to the cross to redeem all of mankind. You paid for the sins of every human being who ever lived.

You have proven this time and again. The apostle Paul, before redemption, killed Christ followers because they followed you. Your grace changed his life. You’ve redeemed by your grace countless incarcerated Christ followers who committed heinous crimes. Jeffrey Dahmer comes to mind. Our humanity passes judgment—they deserve no mercy. Your grace says otherwise and sweeps the once-degenerate-but-now-redeemed souls into your kingdom.

We might not be social outcasts, but we need redemption too. Thank you, Lord, for sweeping us into your kingdom. Amen, Jesus

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