So many times the Lord shows us mercy when we don’t even deserve it. We fall short so often, but each time that we reach out for God to deliver us, He does so without delaying. He is always there with arms open wide to receive us. No matter how far we’ve strayed, He still loves us. He understands that our minds are continually battling our flesh. He also understands that because we are weak, we often fall short of our goals. Everyone, that climbs a hill will eventually hit the top. We can feel like we are on top of the world. But we all know this feeling doesn’t last. The same can be said with those following Jesus. The Holy Spirit can be so strong in our lives. We can be witnessing for Him and doing His will and then, one day, our guard is down and we get reminded of former pleasures. Slowly we get suckered into the lusts of our former self. Being born again doesn’t mean that we won’t ever fall into sin. Satan doesn’t want anything to do with this new lifestyle. He desires to lead as many followers of Jesus astray. For this reason, the Lord desires that we come back to Him quickly, when we fall. Don’t stay stagnant in your sins but do something about it fast. Confess your sins openly to God that He may free you from your bondage. Cry out to God, like Paul did, when he said, 5“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Understand your need for a Savior and no longer stay in your sinful nature. The sooner you repent, the easier it will be to get back on track with God. However, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to come back to God’s love. In our lusts, we are putting a border between us and God.
Get back up when you sin. Humble yourself and come to God in prayer for deliverance. God continues to beckon us home, though we have strayed. The question is, are we listening to His still small voice? Are we listening and taking in what we learn in church and others? Are you being convicted and following the promptings of the Spirit? If you have, then repent. God is giving you another chance to make yourself right before Him. We never know when death will come. Tonight could be our last breath. 4Are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus in judgement? Have you lived a life for Him or the world? Have you fought against sin or not at all? With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can fight. We can win the battle. Let us give thanks for what God does in our lives. He is so wonderful, in all He does. Now, relate what He does for you and what you are like with others. When someone makes a mistake and apologies to you, are you quick to forgive or keep grudges? Jesus said, 2“if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Just as we desire forgiveness, we must also forgive. Just as we desire mercy, we must show mercy. Jesus taught, 1“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Just as we desire to go to heaven, we must also open our doors to those that have hurt us. How can we say we love God when we aren’t showing this same love towards others? Jesus taught us how to show mercy in the story of the good Samaritan. At the end of that parable He said, 3“Go, and do thou likewise”. Will you follow His command? Come to Jesus and follow in His ways. Lower your pride and do what Jesus says.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, thank You for your kindness. Thank You for showing such mercy for my sins, though I don’t deserve it. Thank You for giving me a chance at a new life. I am grateful for Your gift of grace. Lord, help me to always come back to You when I’ve strayed. Help me to do so quick and not linger in my sins. I am weak but you make me stronger. I know that I have no power over temptation without You in my life. You are the light that carries me through the darkness. You help me love one another. You help me show mercy and kindness towards others that have hurt me. All my walls have born torn down because of Your great love inside of me. It gives me great pleasure to forgive others as You forgive me. I am honored to follow In Your ways. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Matthew 5:1-11 (KJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
2Matthew 6:9-15 (KJV)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
3Luke 10:25-37 (KJV)
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
4John 5:19-30 (KJV)
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
5Romans 7:14-25 (KJV)
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.