You outdid yourself today! Let me tell you the three things that struck me.
First: you began with, "We present ourselves before You again ..." For some reason, this just struck me hard. I almost gasped. From the fall in the Garden of Eden onward, mankind did everything we could to "present ourselves before Him." But we couldn't come into His presence. From the tower of Babel to sexual sins to violence to the Pharisaical trying to be perfect, we did everything. And failed.
And in an instant, on the cross, in the biggest payment (and greatest pain) of all time, Christ opened the door.
I take it too lightly, but you reminded me today.
Second: your conviction of the sin of our resentments. Oh, we LOVE to recount "their" evils in all they did to us, but you point out our sin. And I SO SO appreciate that you did that.
My one, single, biggest problem in the whole wide world: is what I do not what "they" did. And you remind me. Thank you.
Third: we look to YOU (Father, Lord) for the grace to love "them," to want the best for them. I need God both for my salvation but also for my change of heart to love those who have hurt me. I can't do any of it on my own. To God alone be glory.
Hi Karen,
You outdid yourself today! Let me tell you the three things that struck me.
First: you began with, "We present ourselves before You again ..." For some reason, this just struck me hard. I almost gasped. From the fall in the Garden of Eden onward, mankind did everything we could to "present ourselves before Him." But we couldn't come into His presence. From the tower of Babel to sexual sins to violence to the Pharisaical trying to be perfect, we did everything. And failed.
And in an instant, on the cross, in the biggest payment (and greatest pain) of all time, Christ opened the door.
I take it too lightly, but you reminded me today.
Second: your conviction of the sin of our resentments. Oh, we LOVE to recount "their" evils in all they did to us, but you point out our sin. And I SO SO appreciate that you did that.
My one, single, biggest problem in the whole wide world: is what I do not what "they" did. And you remind me. Thank you.
Third: we look to YOU (Father, Lord) for the grace to love "them," to want the best for them. I need God both for my salvation but also for my change of heart to love those who have hurt me. I can't do any of it on my own. To God alone be glory.
Thanks,
Sam
Sam, such a close reading and response. And how God spoke to you! So precious.
We are so lost in our actions and reactions, aren’t we? And yet, we are so precious to Him that He would open the way between us at such cost.
Thank you so much for your affirmation that God is in the words.
Bless you.
More, Lord! Send your Spirit to both of our worship services this morning to convict and refresh. We need You. Amen.