Forgiveness With A Price

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Scripture: Psalms 51

Here in this passage we find the cry from David for forgiveness from his sin. Wow, to think a king, a man of power, and most of all a man after God’s own heart dealt with the same issue with sin as us. David decided to tarry behind when he was supposed to be at battle and Satan orchestrated a plan. Lust immediately consumed him and before sunset David had sinned and lost his fellowship with a holy God. Yet, after his sin was exposed he cried out for forgiveness and God forgave him.

In our lives it is true we sin daily but repeated acts of disobedience before God will cost you fellowship just as with David. As a Christian if you mess up there is forgiveness that God will draw from his well of grace and pour out on your life. The only reason David was left King and Saul lost his kingdom was because David knew how to repent.  Just as with David we should seek repentance not rise up in pride.

Allow me for a just a moment to share a principle within our devotion on forgiveness with you that has been lost in this generation.

While we can experience forgiveness it will always come with a price tag. David chose his sin but not his consequence. When we chose to act in disobedience there will always be a cost to our forgiveness. Yet it cost David four of his children. Let me encourage you to fear God and don’t place yourself in places where you will be like David paying some dear price for restored fellowship with God.

He Went All the Way

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Scripture: John 19

The America as it was founded has been under attack for many years and now in 2011 we are seeing the destruction like never before. Traditional homes or better labeled Bible based homes are being destroyed and replaced with “Hollywood homes”. Music and entertainment are producing an environment of no rules just all out wild fun across the country. Morals almost appears as simply a thing of the past while the live as you want mentality is running wild. Yet in the middle of this lifestyle that the world labels fun why are so many hurting, depressed, addicted to substances, and suicidal? Why are millionaires and superstars unhappy and many killing themselves while possessing every pleasure imaginable at their fingertips?

Allow me for just a moment to submit to you the reason why so much brokenness is present in what is suppose to be the free and fun society. Every individual was created with a soul that has been perverted by the sin we are born into and commit. This causes us to strive in every way possible to fill the void. We try money, cars, houses, sex, power, pills, alcohol, drugs, etc yet while alone at night we can not shake this emptiness and we can not find the remedy for filling this void. Is there hope? Is there even anything out there that can fill this void?

There was one man who loved sinful empty people enough to pay the price. Our passage in John 19 tells us of Christ who went all the way for us some 2,000 years ago. He allowed His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, allowed them to torture and beat Him in Gabbatha, allowed them to crucify Him on Golgotha, and upon giving the ghost He was laid in the garden tomb. Why would anyone be willing to shed their blood, endure the most violent torture man could inflict, and lay down their life? Simply Christ loved you so much He was willing to go all the way that you could be redeemed and have life more abundantly! Are you desperate enough to believe on this Man Christ Jesus who died for you? You are living empty but you do not have to remain that way ask Jesus to save you and change your life this very day!