Often we turn away from the grace of God and want to return to the ways of slavery to sin. So many times, we in our weakness, want to return to old habits. Let us use this time of year, the forty days before we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave to examine ourselves to see what weakness of faith and obedience to the service of God we can purge ourselves of.
As Our God is a redemptive God, eager to forgive and wanting to ever welcome us, we are assured that when ever we stray from His way He will welcome us back. As we are seeking the easy way or the life that we left behind, He is wanting us to stay on the righteousness path of Salvation. Let us concentrate on the wondrous deeds that Christ has preformed in our lives and choose not to be lead back into the ways of the World. Let us focus on the Way of Christ and the Road of Redemption.
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Day 2: “The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness; forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.” Num 14:18
While we are quick to accept the forgiveness of God, we still must remember that God will judge us according to our hearts. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, the guilt has been removed and we no longer face the punishments due us. But that does not remove from us the guilt that we carry about. We carry the generation sins of our “fathers” by the attitudes and habits that control our lives that are not the will of Christ. Addictions, Attitudes and Actions demonstrate the “sins of the Fathers” that we still hang onto as a lack of Spiritual Awareness.
Grant us O LORD, the power to imbrace your forgiveness and to rid ourselves of those things that Hide your mercy from us. Awake in me the Spirit to withstand the onslaughts of my weaknesses, my depravity, my sinful nature that separates me from your Love. I can not do it with out You, O LORD, Be my strength when I am temped to return to sin. Amen
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Day 3: “The gift is not that which came through the one who sinned; for in the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.” Romans 5:16
Though the gift of Christ, given by the Father so that we might have been reconciled with the Father, we are free from the punishment and the guilt of Adam’s transgressions. God has freed us to live without transgressions against Him. Which life do you choose to live now? One of continual offence against the giver of the gift or a life that claims victory over sin by sharing forgiveness and righteous love. As Christ so loved us, we shall love each other.
Teach me, O LORD, how to forgive as you have forgiven me. Show me how to live in the freedom of Your Grace, forgiving as you have forgiven, loving as you have loved. Show me how to walk without condemnation because you do not condemn me. Amen
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Day 4: “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned with the world.” 1 Cor 11:32
As we grow each day in the faith of God, we are called to be of a contrite heart. That is a heart that seeks goodness rather than the ways of the world. We seek to change ourselves from the nature of the world and conform to the nature of God. In this way we are disciplined, not as a punishment, but as an action of reconciliation. By Grace we are no longer of the world, by forgiveness we are restored to a precious creation of the Father of creation.
Judge me O Lord by the intent of my heart. Mold me and shape me in the way you so desire so that I might be made a worthy vessel of Your Love Eternal. Grant me the wisdom to judge as you have judged me with the sweet correction of Your Love. Amen.
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Day 5: “(Jesus Christ our Lord) through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake. among whom you also are called of Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:5-6
We are called into the forgiveness who were not deserving of forgiveness. We who are Gentiles, outsiders and foreign to the Word have been forgiven by the Blood of Jesus. How more fitting is it that we are called to obedience for the sake of Jesus and His sacrifice. We are called into the Spirit of Holiness because of the forgiveness. Yet it is us who are called saints, brothers and beloved disciples. We are summoned by the grace and Gentle Love of God to be numbered in the Book of Life, let us live in the Word and the Forgiveness.
By Your Grace I received forgiveness, by Your grace I choose to live with a forgiving spirit. Grant me the power to be merciful as your are mercy to me. Let me hold no grievance against any man lest you hold grievance against me. As You have forgiven me, unworthy as I am, let me forgive those who have grieved me. Amen.
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