Everlasting?

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

It is tough to get our head’s around the concept of forever isn’t it?

Even the most durable of goods or the most secure of traditions eventually succumb to the rigors of time.

So when I am presented with a statement like God’s mercy is everlasting, my feeble little mind really struggles.

Doubt creeps in. Thoughts like “How could GOD continue to love me when I fail Him daily, almost continuously?” “I know my scorecard and my grace account has to be getting close to being overdrawn.”

You ever feel that way? You ever string a few bad days together, struggle with an old sin, have a cadre’ of “bad decision days" and wonder if GOD has “had enough of you”?

I know I have.

There have been many times I have convinced myself that GOD’s forgiveness has to have limits.

This usually happens when I can’t seem to shake one of those “recurrent” sins we talked about last week. You know one of those constantly confessed but “sticky sins”. That is when the enemy comes along and whispers that the Lord must surely be weary of this constant sin/admission cycle. And that is usually followed by the ubiquitous, doubt…guilt and shame.

That is when I remind myself that the enemy…

John 8:44

...he is a liar and the father of lies.

The “real truth” is that we CANNOT sin our way out of God’s grace, no matter how sticky the sin or exhaustive the confession.

Lamentations 3:22

²² The Lord's love never ends;
his mercies never stop.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid our past, present, and future sin-debt. This means that no matter how great our offense or how often we sin, God’s grace covers every transgression. He forgives as often as necessary.

And while this mercy never stops, it is not a “get out of jail free” card.

His forgiveness is infinite, but that does not mean we can get away with sin. As a loving Father, God disciplines His children. He will allow us to face the consequences of our sin but He is also faithful to show us where we have gone wrong and how we can correct our actions to return to the path of righteousness.

God desires that each of us grow in righteousness and reflect the nature of Jesus. But GOD also understands that we all are a work-in-process and that sometimes we will make mistakes and fall into sinful patterns from which we must be restored.

Yet because His grace is infinite, GOD is pleased to draw us back into a right relationship with Him. Pay close attention to that! GOD is PLEASED to draw us back!

For...

2 Corinthians 12:9
...he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you...

And boy oh boy am I grateful for that. Aren’t you?

I love you all.

Have a blessed day!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney