Thoughts for another day

Feb. 5, 2008

Today's verse: Daniel 3:39. Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Man makes mistakes continually. His atrocities are abominations before the God of heaven and earth. God, though incensed by our sins, does not bring in retribution because of His unlimited mercy but, there is no doubt that the repercussions of our sins return to haunt us. While this may be so, our eternal destiny isn’t changed if we have believed in the Son of God and have subjected ourselves to the atonement through His shedding of the blood, which has been accepted by the Great I AM.

The retribution to the Jews was right because of the Law and the instructions that God gave them. But the Jews sinned bringing God’s wrath upon them. God forsook them and they were miserable before the Babylonians. God had sent His prophets to advise the people and turn them from the path of wrong, but they did not care for the prophets, on the contrary they subjected them to insult and injury. How long could a Holy God tolerate this? Before long, they suffered and the most dreaded calamities visited them. They were brought to their knees and subjected to all sorts of evil.

But in God’s story, we often see that in beaten and miserable situations, there are a few people who God, in His unlimited mercy and boundless love, keeps to pray so that,He can stretch His hand and save. Azariah and His companions prayed in the fire they were hauled into. They had defied the edict of the king for it went against the only King they believed in and it required that they be cast into a hot furnace. In the furnace God’s Spirit entered the hearts of His servants saving them. And they prayed and sang His glory.

Our verse today, is an expression of acceptance of guilt and the fervent plea which finds God’s acceptance. In such humbling, God finds room to work. Therefore, although they were in the blazing furnace, they were not singed. For us it is a good lesson that even if we have done something dreadful, it’s time to get up and move toward Him humbly, for He is merciful to forgive and begin a new chapter in our lives.