HIS MERCYSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: God in His mercy forgives us and blesses us. When Jesus lived in this earth, He shared a parable about a tax collector. His duty was to collect taxes from the people. Being a tax collector, he did not consider himself to be of high status but humbled himself to be an unrighteous person. He went to the temple of God and stood afar off. He did not dare even to raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and cried, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (Luke 18:13,14). God saw his godly sorrow and his yearning for repentance.. He forgave his sins. Being made a righteous person, he went home as a justified one.
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)
There was an old woman, who was laid in an easy chair and was tied to a rope. When her neighbour questioned about this, her relatives explained that she had lost her husband in a young age and was unable to bear that great shock. Hence she was mentally affected and behaved very violently . No medical treatment could heal her. Sorrow had destroyed her life.
When we go through difficult times, sorrow engulfs us. It tries to destroy us. But, the word of God tells that godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation.
Dear friend, even today, we do the same thing to the Lord Jesus. Let us analyze ourselves. Though we say that we have accepted Him as our personal Saviour and has become His beloved child, we deny Him many times. Likewise, when we deny Him, we once again crucify him on the Cross of Calvary (Hebrews 6:6). When we do so, we become sorrowful and beat our breasts like the tax collector. But God in his mercy forgives us and blesses us.
Prayer:
Most Gracious Father,
Bless me with Your word so that I can overcome the sorrow through repentance. It is good that I have been afflicted in my life so that I can learn Your statutes. Let Your guidance be always with me which will bring me out of the hardships. Help me to give more importance to Your word. Lead me in the paths of righteousness and bless me to receive the crown of life.
In Jesus’ matchless name I pray.
Amen. |