Time After Time!

"You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19 NIV).

From the beginning, whenever mankind has fallen out of fellowship with God, He has relented and shown compassion and mercy towards us. He has given us chance after chance to get living right for Him.  Some of us have taken advantage of the opportunity and some have not. And yet, He waits--giving us space to repent before judgment falls upon us. Why are some waiting?

There are some people who have decided that having "fun" is more important than living right. They resent anyone attempting to tell them they should change their ways and stop doing what gives them "short-term pleasure." Perhaps, just perhaps, the method being used to deter wrong behavior is judgment itself and when people feel like they are being judged--already--they feel no need to change. However, if the method to convince people to change is with loving-kindness, sharing all of the benefits of living for God, and proclaiming God's love--and people see us "living the benefits" they will more likely believe us and change.

We do not have to beat people with The Word, we should love them with The Word.
We do not have to point out their sins; they know--they are just too fearful to let them go.
We do not have to judge others who are in sin--that's not our job; we should live the life before them and encourage them to get to know Jesus.

If we say one thing and yet do another--we are hypocrites. We cannot convince others that God is love if all they ever see is condemnation from us. Sometimes, people who have been convicted of sin by others who were harsh and rigid think that is the only way to win others to Christ. I am so thankful that God's love was showered upon me in such a way that I was ready to give up all that was not like Him, willingly because I wanted to please Him. Hallelujah! I've learned that pleasing God in all things is so much more important than any attempt to pacify others.

We must remember to share with others--God's mercy, His love, His compassion, His forgiveness, His patience--in waiting for us--time after time. We must convince others--not with our words, but by our actions--that the benefits of living for God are greater than living for the world.

He had sent people to me--time after time--to show me the way--that one pathway to Him and though some of their methods did not work, He did not give up on me and sent those who had received His love to share with me, and I received--their love and God's love--and now living with His benefits--walking in His favor.

I pray today that we'll become those people-who have received God's love--and will share it with others in bringing them into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. God has given us yet, another opportunity--as He has--time after time-for us to show people The Way, The Truth, and The Light of His Love.