“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
– 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)
We expect God to forgive us, but often we forget that we still must repent for our sins. We must seek God in earnest, asking not only for forgiveness, but for guidance. We look toward him for deliverance, and we must find our way here, on the earthly plain while he works outside of time.
God does not condemn us to torment and pain. Often, we find ourselves on this path due to the problems we face and what we do to each other. We are all connected. Each and every one of us is linked, and what we do individually will eventually affect someone else; and so on, and so forth. Surely, you did not think you were here on this planet, alone, eking out your existence in lonesome drudgery? No, my friends. We are here, together. And until we understand this mere fact, that we share an eternal and fateful connection, we will consistently suffer each other's hurt over and over again.
Humility is not something one comes by easily. It takes effort to admit you are wrong. You, who have committed sin against another, will likely not admit it to their face. We barely like to admit that we are wrong. Isn't that sad? But God in Heaven shows us that forgiveness is not something that is just given, but earned and worked for, because you have to be able to forgive others, first.
May you be blessed today. Amen.
– 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)
We expect God to forgive us, but often we forget that we still must repent for our sins. We must seek God in earnest, asking not only for forgiveness, but for guidance. We look toward him for deliverance, and we must find our way here, on the earthly plain while he works outside of time.
God does not condemn us to torment and pain. Often, we find ourselves on this path due to the problems we face and what we do to each other. We are all connected. Each and every one of us is linked, and what we do individually will eventually affect someone else; and so on, and so forth. Surely, you did not think you were here on this planet, alone, eking out your existence in lonesome drudgery? No, my friends. We are here, together. And until we understand this mere fact, that we share an eternal and fateful connection, we will consistently suffer each other's hurt over and over again.
Humility is not something one comes by easily. It takes effort to admit you are wrong. You, who have committed sin against another, will likely not admit it to their face. We barely like to admit that we are wrong. Isn't that sad? But God in Heaven shows us that forgiveness is not something that is just given, but earned and worked for, because you have to be able to forgive others, first.
May you be blessed today. Amen.