Archive Poster : July 2018
If you look in a newspaper or history book you won't find the real history of the world. You see our version of history is so different from what matters to God. When we think of great battles in history we probably think of the Napoleonic Wars or World Wars I & II.
But to God, the great battles of history are those waged each day inside a person. The struggle we have to either resist or give in to temptation. God notices when we're not kind to others or we boast or steal or slander or decide to acknowledge him as our creator and sustainer ... or not. These decisions are, by far, the most significant battles in history.
In the Bible, one of the first Christian leaders, Paul of Tarsus, spoke of his own personal battle with temptation. He said this in a letter he wrote to the church in Rome,
"For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing."
We can all identify with these words. So, can there be any hope when the catalogue of our mistakes is so long and when the cost of our bad decisions to others, ourselves and the honour of God - is so great? The answer is 'Yes - because God's mercy is bigger than our mistakes!' He is willing to forgive.
There's another way in which our version of history is different to God's. We keep thinking certain people are more valuable than others. Perhaps those of a particular race, or class or those with wealth, fame, power or good looks. But God cares about every person equally. And he's prepared to forgive the sin of anyone - no matter how much baggage is in their life.
In a letter to Christians on the island of Crete, Paul spoke with wonder about why Jesus's death on the cross was such good news. He explained that it means that we can be forgiven - redeemed by God.
He wrote
... when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
So, no matter how many your mistakes, take them to Jesus and the cross where he is willing and able to deal with them.
Prayer: Dear God please help me to trust that your mercy really is big enough to deal with all my mistakes.
Bible: ... when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-5)
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