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One thing that we should always remember is that God's forgiveness reaches
from everlasting to everlasting. Many times we turn our backs on God and
we choose not to follow His path because we believe the lie that we are
not worthy to be forgiven and called His children. What we must realize
is that God's forgiveness is available whether we accept it or not. He is
ready and waiting to forgive us of our shortfalls, cleanse us of our
iniquities and make us a new creation in Christ. All this awaits those
who repent of their sins, but they must take the first step and simply
admit their sins. Just as our parents are quick to forgive us of things
that we have done wrong, so it is with our Heavenly Father who is eager to
cleanse us of our past and renew us for our present and our future.
Be encouraged to come to the Lord if you have fallen away and know that His
forgiveness not only cleanses you, but it also refreshes you. The Lord is
good to us even though we don't deserve it. His goodness is extended to
all those who will simply call upon His Name. Do not let yourself be far
from God any longer. A new start for you is waiting. Simply call upon Him
and share with God all that is on your heart. (Jeremiah 31:3) (Psalm 117:1-2)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see how great
and loving our Heavenly Father is. The Lord is gracious, merciful and
ready to forgive and receive us unto Himself when we simply call upon Him.
A FATHER'S FORGIVENESS
When I was a boy I always wanted to be a cowboy. I remember my Mom worrying
about me getting sick from the heat in the summer, because I wore a thick
blue sweater all the time. No respectable cowboy, however, would wear short
sleeves so I sweated while I played.
I was overjoyed too when one day my parents gave me a bb gun. It looked
just like a lever action rifle that all the cowboys used in the movies. I
spent hours each day during those summer months shooting at stumps and
pretending to be John Wayne. I even mastered the one-handed, swing, load
and shoot move I had seen him do in a movie once. At least that is what I
thought. As I was coming into the house one afternoon, though, I tried it
one time too many. The gun that I thought was empty let out a soft pop and
a bb flew across the room and parted the hair of my Dad who was asleep on
the couch. My Dad took one look at the bb hole a half inch above his head,
walked over to me, took my gun, walked outside, and calmly broke it in half.
I didn’t cry too much over this. I knew how close I had come to hurting my
Dad with my stupidity. I didn’t expect to ever get another bb gun either.
That is why I was so surprised when my Dad bought me another one the next
year. I guess he thought I had wised up enough to know how to use it this
time. I never put a single bb in the new gun, but in my imagination John
Wayne rode again.
I eventually outgrew my cowboy stage, but I never did outgrow my
appreciation for my Father’s forgiveness. He showed me that even when I
messed up in the worse way I was still loved. He gave me another chance
and let me know that I was forgiven whether I deserved it or not. He
shared with me some of the unconditional love and forgiveness that our
Father in Heaven has for us all. May we always embrace and share that love
and forgiveness as well.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say
that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for
ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Psalm 51:1-3 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from
my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
Psalm 103:10-14 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so
great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from
the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a
father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For
He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: START OVER...
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem96.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: A PRISONER FREED AT LAST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony87.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
