Tag: forgiven
Radical love in action!
Scripture reading for October 13th: Jeremiah 38, 39, 52, 1st Peter 2
1st Peter 2: 18-23 “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; When He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him Who judges justly.”
Peter encouraged submission to all authorities, even those who were abusive or unjust. Suffering is part of following Jesus Christ. Our Lord set the example for us in His trial, death and resurrection. God looks upon His people suffering unjustly as an act of grace towards those mistreating them. God’s goodness leads people to repentance. Jesus Christ suffered unjustly for our sins and prayed for forgiveness for those so mistreating Him. Because of this, He ransomed all who will in faith look to Him. Peter wanted believers to follow in that example to see God’s enemies saved if possible. This is radical love in action.
1st Peter 2:24 “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”
Prayer: Father God, I struggle to fully submit to unrighteous authority. Forgive me of my sin of pride and teach me the way of the cross and Jesus Christ My Lord. Help me to learn from those in Scripture who also suffered unjustly under rebellious authority yet remained true to God and His Word. Use me to show Your amazing grace to those needing redemption and Your healing for their souls.
Jeremiah 38:6 “So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.” (Response of king Zedekiah to Jeremiah’s Word from the Lord.)
Faith counted as righteousness!
Scripture reading for May 27th: 2nd Samuel 24, 1st Chronicles 21, Romans 4
Key Scriptures: Romans 4:3-7 “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Paul used both Abraham and David as models for followers of Jesus Christ. As Abraham believed God’s promise of a coming son, God counted him as righteous through his obedient trust. As David appealed to God for forgiveness after his sin against God, so God forgave him and covered his sins. In the New Testament times, believers trust in the Son of David, Who offered His own body and blood to save us from the penalty and power of sin. We are declared ‘righteous’ by faith.
2nd Samuel 24:10 “But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, thank You for Your great mercy towards all of us sinners! I believe on the Lord Jesus, Son of God, Son of David for justification from sin. I will declare the ‘Good News’!
1st Chronicles 21:25-26 “So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.”