“Welcome Home?” – Page 4 - 2/12/2012
Folks, if you’ve been wounded by someone you once loved, and you would like to be free from that wound, think on how the LORD was wounded by your attitudes, your behavior, your selfishness. And take time to wonder how it can be that God so loved you that He made a way for you to be forgiven for every single sin you ever committed.
Your wounds are great. But God’s are greater. Yet, in His love, He forgave. In order for Absalom or you and I to get beyond our wounded spirits, we’ve got to do one thing and one thing only: we’ve got to repent of our own sins against the LORD.
I don’t believe Absalom ever found restoration either with David or with God. And don’t forget this side of the story. David lived with this for the rest of his life. Sometime this week, look at David on the day that Absalom loses his life and see what kind of man David is, knowing how his has mistreated his son.
First, David is an example of the unforgiving spirit.
Second, Absalom is an example of a wounded spirit that refuses to repent of his own sin.
Now third, some lessons from the ways of the LORD. When you read your Bible, do you look for the LORD? Do you look to see how God works in these fractured families and broken relationships? If you watch how God works in the lives of the Bible characters, you’ll learn how He still works work in your life today.
First, God is omniscient. Yes, it’s true that we’ve all experienced huge setbacks and pain. Yet, we can find comfort in the fact that God is perfect in His omniscience. He sees and He knows every single aspect of your life.
Second, God is patient with each one of us. Where would you be today if God was impatient? God’s patience will always win in the end.
Third, God is always ready to forgive. Can you imagine a God Who withholds forgiveness from those who request it?
Fourth, God is always at work on your heart. Every day and in every situation God is working behind the scenes. And His quiet work is the work He does upon your heart and that, practically speaking, only you and He know about.
Fifth, God is our final resort. When we are finally tired of our sin and tire of our distance from Him, we will turn to Him. And we will always find Him ready to receive us like He received the prodigal son.
Aren’t you glad God is Who He is and that God is just as the Bible says He is? David, Absalom, and you and I are no different, are we? We’ve all made some serious messes. We’ve all gone down the path of sin, although yours may be different than the person sitting next to you. And yet, God is ready, willing, and able to not only forgive, but to forget and then to restore us if we will turn to Him.
Jesus went to the Cross, not for our sins, but yours and mine. Will you repent of your sins today and receive Him as your Savior and LORD? If not, why not?
Prayer of Surrender: “LORD, right now I submit all that I am to you, my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your will upon me today. Amen”
Your wounds are great. But God’s are greater. Yet, in His love, He forgave. In order for Absalom or you and I to get beyond our wounded spirits, we’ve got to do one thing and one thing only: we’ve got to repent of our own sins against the LORD.
I don’t believe Absalom ever found restoration either with David or with God. And don’t forget this side of the story. David lived with this for the rest of his life. Sometime this week, look at David on the day that Absalom loses his life and see what kind of man David is, knowing how his has mistreated his son.
First, David is an example of the unforgiving spirit.
Second, Absalom is an example of a wounded spirit that refuses to repent of his own sin.
Now third, some lessons from the ways of the LORD. When you read your Bible, do you look for the LORD? Do you look to see how God works in these fractured families and broken relationships? If you watch how God works in the lives of the Bible characters, you’ll learn how He still works work in your life today.
First, God is omniscient. Yes, it’s true that we’ve all experienced huge setbacks and pain. Yet, we can find comfort in the fact that God is perfect in His omniscience. He sees and He knows every single aspect of your life.
Second, God is patient with each one of us. Where would you be today if God was impatient? God’s patience will always win in the end.
Third, God is always ready to forgive. Can you imagine a God Who withholds forgiveness from those who request it?
Fourth, God is always at work on your heart. Every day and in every situation God is working behind the scenes. And His quiet work is the work He does upon your heart and that, practically speaking, only you and He know about.
Fifth, God is our final resort. When we are finally tired of our sin and tire of our distance from Him, we will turn to Him. And we will always find Him ready to receive us like He received the prodigal son.
Aren’t you glad God is Who He is and that God is just as the Bible says He is? David, Absalom, and you and I are no different, are we? We’ve all made some serious messes. We’ve all gone down the path of sin, although yours may be different than the person sitting next to you. And yet, God is ready, willing, and able to not only forgive, but to forget and then to restore us if we will turn to Him.
Jesus went to the Cross, not for our sins, but yours and mine. Will you repent of your sins today and receive Him as your Savior and LORD? If not, why not?
Prayer of Surrender: “LORD, right now I submit all that I am to you, my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your will upon me today. Amen”