Are You Ready

And on this note, we say, “Praise the Lord!” These devotionals on “Repentance from Sin and Unforgiveness” have taken us to places and exposed the things we buried in the deep recesses of our minds. Isn’t it just like God to bring them back up so we can deal with them biblically, for His glory? Enjoy today’s devotional and we pray that your hearts will be encouraged!

SCRIPTURE:  “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6: 12, 14: 12

Saints of God, I am grateful God is not finish with us! This walk with Him seems steady and perpetual. We must intentionally and diligently walk forward and continue to identify new areas of territory to conquer for His glory. Let’s look at Forgiveness. I believe I was 15 years-old the first time I repented from my sins and recognized my desperate need for Christ’s abundant love and forgiveness. No longer did I believe my righteousness could gain me any favor with the Father. I did it publicly, too. It was a week night of a “Revival Service” and it was absolutely personal. Though, I was nervous and felt humiliated in front of choir members and the congregation, I was compelled to take that walk from the corner of that choir loft all the way to the Evangelist to say, “I want to be saved.”

On that night, It became clear. Christ’s death and resurrection was for “me” and the inhabitants of the entire world-John 3:16. Christ’s display of love (His Crucifixion and Resurrection) paid for past, current, and future sins. Once in Christ, no man or any given situation can separate us from His forgiveness. Now, that’s Power! Well, in Christ, we are imputed the same Power. Yes, we have the will, the ability to forgive! Walking in God’s Marvelous light, we can forgive any sin against us. In our allegiance to our Lord, and because of His unconditional love, we should have conviction and desire to align ourselves and please Him. For it is the way we interact with others in the faith and in the world that we encourage and win others to the faith. Hey, it is also the way God says we identify with Him. Don’t we, on many occasions, proudly proclaim, we are Christians?

In Scripture, we are commanded to love our neighbors the way we love our own selves; we are taught to forgive others their sins so the Father will forgive us. Living any other way is living in rebellion to God. Therefore, our job is simple; we must be ready! Ready to practice obedience to what God has said. Ready to agree with what God calls sin, even in respect to our relationships with one another. Basically, our peace in and with God depends upon our readiness to embrace and practice what He deems “Good” for us.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for attempting to do any part or level of life on our own; interrupt any comfort we may find in resisting to forgive one another. Let unforgiveness not be named amongst the Body. We want our praise; our worship to always be a sweet smelling savour to You, Oh Lord. Help us to resist all of the evil one's promptings and temptations; and embrace practicing Your magnificent power You freely give to us (for our safety, our peace) on this side of eternity. We want to bring You glory as we are no longer our own; “We are Yours!” In Christ’s Name we pray-Amen!
By Sis. Lisa Williams