“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”(Luke 15:18 NIV) Over the years, my prayers of confession have come to resemble that of the son in today’s passage. Even though he had sinned against his father, the prodigal son acknowledged that his sin was pre-eminently against God. When King David confessed his sin withContinueContinue reading “Seek God’s Pardon First”
Category Archives: Easter
They Don’t Know What They’re Doing
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NIV) I’ve come to the realization that oftentimes, people who hurt us really don’t know what they’re doing. I believe that for the most part, they’re truly acting in ignorance. Realizing this truth will help us to forgive thoseContinueContinue reading “They Don’t Know What They’re Doing”
Let It Go
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV) Once, two kindergarten students were fighting over a toy. “Let it go!” yelled one of them. “Let it go!” shouted the other, and soon, the whole class was singingContinueContinue reading “Let It Go”
Confess Your Mess
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV) After a discussion on the topic of sin, a student determined that she wasn’t going to sin once she left the classroom. The teacher reminded her that it wouldContinueContinue reading “Confess Your Mess”
Forgive and Forget?
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”(Hebrews 10:17 NIV) God says He’ll remember our sins “no more,” which means that God will never use the past against us (Psalm 103:12), not that He’ll forget our sins because God doesn’t forget. Similarly, we can’t forget the wrong that was done to us, evenContinueContinue reading “Forgive and Forget?”
Choose to Forgive
If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?But with you there is forgiveness; so that we can, with reverence, serve you. (Psalm 130:3-4 NIV) One of the many wonderful attributes of God is His forgiveness. He always stands ready to forgive, and He does so freely. The Bible tells us, “asContinueContinue reading “Choose to Forgive”
He Loves Us Just the Way We Are
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV) A few years ago, I had a student who I grew to love. At first glance, there was probably not much to love about him. For a four-year-old, he was very tiny, stillContinueContinue reading “He Loves Us Just the Way We Are”
Born to Die
If you really think about it, the concept of death runs like a common thread throughout the birth narrative. A paradox, isn’t it? Mary could have been stoned for getting pregnant while unwed. Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus because he feared a competitor to the throne. And although he failed to kill the baby,ContinueContinue reading “Born to Die”
Jesus Saw
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27 NIV) Just because He was suffering it doesn’t meanContinueContinue reading “Jesus Saw”
He Wants to Give You Far More
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32 NIV) Some people have a hard time believing that God wants to give them His best. It has never occurred to them that although they mayContinueContinue reading “He Wants to Give You Far More”
Rising with the Son 