Settling the score

No vengeance!
No resentment!
No keeping score!

Give everyone
the love
you need.

Leviticus 19:18 paraphrased by Mary Sayler with the help of translations on Bible Gateway.

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Jesus: The Love Offering

Here’s what real love really is –
no, not our love for God.

Real love is God
in love with us.

God the Father sent
His Son to die in our place –

to take away our sins,
our mistakes, our
wrongdoings,

to become
the one truly needed
sacrifice –

for God to forgive us –
fully,
wholly –
making amends.


Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in 1 John 4:10 using various translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Our Old Testament God and Love

Some of us think of our Old Testament God as harsh and vengeful, but that’s not what the Hebrew writers who intimately knew God had to say. Nor is that what we will continue to think if we believe God is faultless, flawless, constant, and in no need of change.

From Genesis to Revelation, we have the same God – everlasting to everlasting. However, our perception of God does change as our understanding broadens and matures. For example, try explaining a difficult situation to a young child, who’s incapable of getting what you’re doing or why at that particular moment. Much later, the same circumstances might become clear as the maturing person understands you did what was best at the time.

God always does what’s best for us!

God’s actions may seem to be harsh or vengeful when needed to chastise, correct, and get a person (or peoples) back on the right track. Nevertheless, we can trust God’s actions to flow from an epicenter of perfect love – a love that began in the beginning as many Hebrew writers clearly showed:

“Therefore, know
the Lord your God
faithfully keeps His promises –
from generation to generation –
and clearly shows love and kindness
to those who love and obey Him,”
Deuteronomy 7:9.

“How priceless is Your persistent love, O God!
We children take cover in the shadow of Your wings,”
Psalm 36:7.

“By day, the Lord sends forth His faithful love.
By night, His song stays with me,”
Psalm 42:8.

“O Lord, I trust You with my soul!
For You are good and ready to forgive,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You,”
Psalm 86:4-5

“Don’t tear your clothes! Open your heart!
Return to the Lord your God,
Who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding
in a love that will not waver,”
Joel 2:13.

“The Lord Your God lives among You –
the Mighty One Who saves!
Gladly, God rejoices over you.
His love comforts you.
God celebrates your life with song,”
Zephaniah 3:17


Scriptures prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017-2019, using Bible verses from many translations found on Bible Gateway.


…

Christ’s love does not let us down

Romans 5:5-11

Our hope in Christ Jesus
does not disappoint us
or put us to shame
because the Holy Spirit
pours into us
the love of God!

For when we were weak and helpless
and unable to save ourselves,
Christ died for all of us – sinners all –
at just the right time.

Think of it! Few of us would be willing
to die for someone else, though, perhaps,
we might for family or friend.

But the Lord proved His amazing love for us
that, while we were way far away from God,

Christ died for us:

justifying us by His blood,
saving us from end-time wrath,
reconciling us to God by His death.

Oh, how much more
will our lives be saved by His life!

Praise God!

Through Jesus Christ our Lord
our fellowship with God, ourselves,
and one another is restored!


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Romans 5:5-11 from several of the many translations found on Bible Gateway

…

Forgiveness gives healing power to love

And Jesus said, “I tell you, her many sins are forgiven for she loved much, but anyone who has forgiven only a little, loves only a little," Luke 7:47.

That true but startling statement also helps to clarify an otherwise baffling remark Jesus made in Mark 2:17, "I came to call not the righteous but sinners."

Ever since God gave us the Ten Commandments through Moses, most Judeo-Christian believers have understood the importance of righteousness. For instance, no one aspires to being immoral, decadent, or dishonest in our dealings with God or other people! However, as we strive to be upright, Romans 3:23 tell us no one will succeed "since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Sooner or later we all lie down on the job of being upright.

No one can expect to stand forever faultless and unflawed – unless we're humble enough to ask God to forgive us, which then restores us to perfection in The Perfect Person of Jesus Christ.

The good news, then, is not that we're free to sin, but that we're free from even hereditary chains of sin. If we ask in all sincerity, we’re freely forgiven of our mistakes and acts of disobedience to God.

We may still need to face restitution or embrace resolutions. Nevertheless, confession and forgiveness put our lives and worth into perspective as we call to mind the sins or errors we have committed, consciously laying them to rest in the boundless love of God. As we become keenly aware of our sins and ongoing dependence on God for healing and forgiving us (probably more often than we’d like!), we're also apt to walk in the strength that comes from receiving, acknowledging, and believing in God's unfailing love.

Prayer: Dear Loving Father and Almighty God, You alone have the power to forgive us for our misdoings and help us to forgive others for their infringements and trespasses, real or imagined, intended or not. Help us to remember, Lord, that forgiveness is an act of choice, not a feeling. Help us to obey Your command to forgive others as we want to be forgiven in Jesus’ Holy Name.

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©2012, Mary Sayler. Thank you for acknowledging this site as you pass along these prayers and devotionals to others. 

God bless.

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