It is by this mercy that Paul exhorts us to not be changed by this world, but to be transformed. Read Romans 12:1-2:
12:1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. 12:2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.Think of how God has given you mercy. Think of the specifics of your evil and cruelty. Then confess those things to Him now. Go ahead, confess it, say it, whisper it, write it down. Now thank God for his forgiveness and in faith receive that immense forgiveness. Trust His forgiveness to be real and effective. It's powerful enough to wash away all that you have done.
Use your understanding of His mercy today, be exhorted by it. May it propel you to present your body to Him in service. God is pleased by your attitude towards his mercy. He is pleased that you are motivated to trust His forgiveness and shun the priorities of this world. He is pleased that you have chosen to live this day out of gratitude for what He did.
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2 comments:
Awesome. We all want to be perfect, and in our flesh we reject the idea that we can "achieve" it though his mercy alone. We reject it because (for some psycho reason) we want to earn it. It would feel so much more real if we could earn it, yeah? That idea always reminds me of this passage, too:
Matthew 4:34-48
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is one of those scriptures that blows your mind because of its simplicity. "Do you want to be perfect? Do you want to DO something to get you there? You can--just love people."
What?! You're telling me that love covers everything? Nah...there has to be something else...there just has to be...
I love following your posts.
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