Unfortunately I can see where I sometimes use disclaimers in my life. Does this scenario happen in your house? "I forgive you but..." Do we put conditions on forgiveness? How about, "if they would only do this, then I would forgive them." That's not how it's supposed to work. We either forgive someone or we don't. Holding something over someone else does not show love and expecting them to, “earn” their way into your good graces isn’t true forgiveness. The truth is that we can only be responsible for our own hearts and actions. Not only does doing the right thing make us feel better, it may also be the instrument that changes the heart of the one we have forgiven.
Jesus came and died without being asked so that WE might be forgiven of the sin in our lives. He loves us that much. We were/are completely wrong and He is completely right, yet He still forgives us. His forgiveness is endless, but it does come with a disclaimer. Romans 10:9, “ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Accepting someone else’s forgiveness feels really good; receiving the forgiveness of God is out of this world! Something to think about…
A man and his wife were making their first doctor visit, with the wife being pregnant with their first child. After everything checked out, the doctor took a small stamp and stamped the wife's stomach with indelible ink. The couple was curious about what the stamp was for, so when they got home, the husband got out his magnifying glass to try to see what it was. In very tiny letters, the stamp said, "When you can read this, come back and see me."
A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, looking at the old pages as he turned them. Then something fell out, and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages. “Momma, look what I found,” the boy called out. “What have you got there, dear?” his mother asked. With astonishment in the his voice, he answered, “It’s Adam’s Suit!”
Adam knew God personally, do you? He wants you to! Come and meet Him. Lighthouse of Faith, 141 E. Main St. Canton (across from Acorn Mkt.) Services are Sun. at 10:30 am. Call 570-673-5912 or visit www.lighthousecanton.com Until next time, look up and smile!