God's Mercy

"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live." - Ezekiel 33:11

Today's Old Testament reading was about a beautiful woman who was falsely accused of adultery by two elders and almost put to death if God had not helped her. Paralleling this story in the New Testament, we hear the account of the adulterous woman brought before Jesus to be stoned. Here is where Jesus says those famous words - let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Susanna, the woman in the first story, was innocent and God spared her life because of His faithfulness. The adulterous woman brought before Jesus was indeed guilt, and God spared her life because of His faithfulness. This should teach each of us a very valuable lesson: God does not want to see any of us die or be humiliated; He wants us to convert and live prosperously. Jesus said to the adulterous woman, go and sin no more… therefore, before the eyes of God, we are as valuable as Susanna if we resolve to turn from our sin and follow God.

Another lesson in these stories is that we need to be as merciful to others as God is with us. How many of us would rush to convict the adulterous woman because she committed a sin? Forgetting anything we ourselves have done, we bring judgement upon others as if we were completely blameless. God, who is all good and wise, does not treat His people with vengeance, although we might very well deserve it, so we should learn to treat others, in all respects, as children of the Lord.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am so evil at times and judge harshly those around me. Forgive me Lord and give me a generous, compassionate heart so that I can treat all others with the love you have for me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Forgiveness Through Love

"This is why, I tell you, her sins, her many sins, are forgiven, because of her great love." - Luke 7:47

One of the best feelings in the world is to be guilty of something and have the person you offended forgive you. I can think of so many times when my father forgave me for things after I have apologized. In recognizing my faults and asking for forgiveness, he saw I was repented and removed the burden from my shoulders. This made me appreciate him so much more. So it is with God; those that have had big sins forgiven, have more love because they are well aware of the sins they have been purified from. They show their appreciation for the Lord through their love for Him and for others. This love alone is worthy of forgiveness of many sins as in the case of the women in this bible passage. On the contrary, there are many that don't show love to anyone, only caring about themselves because they feel themselves lacking from sin and therefore not needing forgiveness. The sins of these people who believe themselves to be above forgiveness are often times much more offensive to God than the sins of murderers and prostitutes that have decided to lead their lives in love and compassion.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, show us how to love perfectly. Love for You and for others forgives a multitude of sins, of which You know I have many. Be with me as I choose to show that love in this world. In Your Name we pray, amen.

An Exercise of Your Faith - Jesus Before You

"I saw someone like a son of man, dressed in a long robe tied with a golden girdle. His head and His hair are white as wool or as snow and His eyes are like flames of fire. His feet are like burnished bronze when it has been refined in a furnace. His voice is like the roaring of the waves." - Revelation 1:13-15

During his time in Patmos, the apostle John had a vision of our Lord Jesus Christ after His ascension into Heaven, in which He saw Him absolutely radiant in all of His glory as King. That's a really powerful image of Jesus but I have another which I'd like to share with you; one I'd like you to take a few minutes to pray and meditate on when you can today. It will help you meet Jesus in Your prayers.

When I meditate, I picture myself on a grassy hill on a beautiful spring afternoon. The breeze blows gently on the grass and flowers, and over a hill, I see Jesus walking over to me. He wears a long white robe and His dark brown hair reaches His shoulders. He comes closer and I see the warmth in His face as our eyes meet. He's come to meet me; He came specifically to see me. Without saying a word He sits next to me and looks me in the eyes with so much concern…He knows what I'm feeling…my pain, my joys, my fears, they don't need to be explained because with the way He's looking at me, I know He's able to fully comprehend all I'm feeling…and the emotions surface as the tears well up in my eyes. As a loving mother picks up her 4 year old child to hug, so does Jesus take me into His arms to hold me, and I let myself be embraced by my Lord who has already laid down His life for me. He says to me, "Peace be with you, I give you my peace," as He wipes the tears away. "Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled; do not be afraid. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love (John 14:27, 15:9)." And there on the hill, my Lord consoles me and gives me peace, for I know He is forever by my side.

While I know Jesus is strong and powerful, I also know He's my friend. So much more than a God, He's a companion that understands me fully and longs for the moments in which I pour out all I'm feeling to Him. He's there when no one else is. He's been the only one to never fail me and as much as I've betrayed Him, I know He'll always, always be there. Remain in His love.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I love You. You are my best friend, not just a God. Thank You for walking with me and holding my hand through out my ups and downs. Help me to introduce Your love and friendship to those that need a true friend. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Listen If You Have Ears

"And Jesus added, '"Listen then, if you have ears.'" - Mark 4:9

Many times before or after Jesus would teach a lesson through parables, he would say "listen then, if you have ears." Of course we all have ears, but what Jesus means is not a listen where you just take in the noise, but a deeper comprehension of what you are listening to and then allow that message to take root. I'm involved in the Pastoral Formation Institute at my church which develops me for ministry in two years and the first course I'm taking is called Redemptive Listening. You would be amazed at how much selfishness there is in listening to others. Naturally, we tend to listen to others and try to relate it back to ourselves, or interrupt the person with comments. All this needs to be stripped away. The reason why Jesus was able to do so much good for people was because He knew how to listen. True listening involves putting yourself, your life, your own interpretation of what someone is telling you to the side, and instead looking at them in the eyes, taking in all they're saying, taking account of their body language, their gestures, their facial expressions, and putting yourself in their shoes with genuine compassion. Only then will you ever be able to understand and help someone else.

I know we all have our own problems and need to vent instead of taking in someone else's issues, but it really is in giving that we receive. We are Jesus' hands and feet…and also ears and shoulders to cry on for others. If we take care of His people, He will make sure someone else takes care of us!

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to open my ears and hearts to others. I want to serve Your sheep with the same compassion You have for them. Open my ears Lord and show me who You need me to listen to today and the next. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Two Wishes

"Yet the Lord waits to give you grace; He rises to show you compassion." - Isaiah 30:18

My wish for you is that you understand with all of your mind and all of your heart how much God loves you. He made us to belong to Him and I know how easy it is to replace Him and fill yourself with other things because I have done it too, and so many times. But God never sees any of that. Don't worry about what you have done. As a loving Father, He only sees your pain and your worries and is longing to help you through. That problem you have that makes your heart ache and that one thing you need, He wants to help you. But He also wants you to ask Him. Isaiah says that God is just waiting for you to go to Him and He's ready to show you compassion. Take advantage of this. Be careful if you say to yourself, "well, I pray and I go to church and I don't feel God do anything for me," because then you really need to be honest with yourself. If you're looking for a quick miracle, then it is not God you are seeking. Understand that to love someone is to have a relationship with someone. The ways of God will never be a quick fix, instead it's to walk with God for Him to work in every area of your life. When you do this, He will give you His grace and compassion, tranforming you into a new being so that He can empty out all His blessings into you, helping you with so much more than that one thing you need so badly right now. If I had a second wish, it would be for you to not be scared to give up your current life to follow Him - there are just too many great things that God has in store for those that decide to put their faith in Him and it doesn't cost anything but your sincerity and some time.

Today's Prayer:
Forgive me God for being so blind as to not see Your love for me. Forgive me for wanting to be on my own when You want to strenthen and bless me. Help me, my God, to walk in Your ways. In Your Name we pray, Amen.