Thoughts for another day

November 20, 2006

Today's verse: Job 22:23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. (KJV)

That our Father in Heaven is merciful is a known fact and that He always forgives us when we repent and return is also known. It is not measured by any yardstick but felt in your heart as it burns within you and then you know that you are forgiven. Take for eg. the ‘sinful’ woman in Lk 7:36-50. She came and anointed Jesus’ legs and wiped them with her hair.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and doubted the credibility of Jesus because he felt Jesus did not know about the woman. Jesus questioned him in His own way and then told him that her many sins were forgiven, although Jesus had not really uttered the words, which He does later. Now how did the woman know that she was forgiven? She felt it in her heart! So also with us, when we have offended God and then go to seek His forgiveness, He accepts and welcomes us back. We know this because deep within our being we feel the release of His love.

An illustration, which embellishes this well, is the parable of the lost son. My friend, see the picture of the son’s father. The son had asked for his share of the wealth and then gone about leading an obnoxious life. When the son returned, the Word of God tells us, the father saw him afar and ran and embraced him. Surely Jesus says this to tell us how our Heavenly Father too waits for us and when we return, runs to embrace us and build us up. He cherishes our return and there is rejoicing in heaven over it.

Beloved look not at your sin but look at the mercy of the Father and seek His heart. We are all unworthy of Him, yet when we return, He is joyful. So come back to Him and allow the full glow of His mercy fall upon you and rejoice; for He your Redeemer is also your spouse and He will never leave you.