Saturday, June 28, 2014 [by Keesha Sullivan]
"In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. 3 So the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son. (2 Kings 13:1-4)
4 Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord's favor, and the Lord listened to him..."
Although Jehoahaz King of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, God still listened to him when he sought favor. Many of my friends believe in God, but they are not ready to come to church or begin a relationship with Him. They feel as though God will not forgive them for their sins, and that the things that they did in their past were just too evil. Some of them even get emotional as they talk about their past.
It is my desire for them to know the true characteristics of God. In Nehemiah 9:31 it talks about God's wonderful attributes. It says, "But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and mercifulGod." One of the most amazing things that God does for His people is forgive them. There is no sin to big for God to forgive. If we "seek the Lord[our] God, [we] will find him if [we] seek him with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul."
Jehoahaz had sinned greatly against God. The Lords anger burned against him as well as the people of Israel, yet when Jehoahaz turned to God, he heard his cries. In fact, God sent His son in order to make sure that we know about the forgiveness that He so lovingly offers. Jesus says in Matthew 26: 28 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
If we seek the Lord our God the way that Jehoahaz sought the Lord, God will listen to us too. The same grace that was provided for Jehoahaz can be provided for us as well.
Lord, God, thank You so much for your forgiveness and mercy. You are a gracious, holy God. We thank you that no matter how evil our sins are that we commit that you still forgive us. Thank You for allowing us to turn our faces to You and to seek you. Please help us to share Your power to forgive with others as well as to "be merciful, just as [You are] merciful" (Luke 6:36).
No comments:
Post a Comment