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Listen while you read: "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"1 (Lyrics) |
As my mother's eldest child, I felt the responsibility of being the firstborn very early in my life. To this day, when I recall my journey from childhood into adulthood, I realize that I have never run away from my responsibilities or the consequences of the things that I have done — real or imagined. I don't know if my conscience made me stay and face the music, or what it was exactly. Even as a child, I just knew that if you do the crime, then you do the time. Growing up, I got into innocent, childish mischief, and my grandmother, who raised me, never allowed me to get away with it. She would punish me for it while professing her love for me. I could never understand why I would be punished after owning up to my silly wrongdoings. I also believed then that you shouldn't punish someone for being truthful. But my granny didn't see it quite that way. I took my punishments.
Like my grandmother, God also takes sin very seriously. We can't do wrong and think that it was unseen by God. He already knows every single sin that we have committed during our lives here on earth. We fool ourselves if we think that no one knows — He sees, and He knows. Nothing is hidden from His eyes! Some of us sin every day but fail to examine our hearts and realize what we really have done. Others just overlook it as a natural way of living.
However, God is a God of mercy, love, and grace. If we own up to our mistakes and ask for forgiveness, then He will forgive us. But first, we must ask for forgiveness. Owning up to our mistakes and actions is the first step in obtaining forgiveness from our Savour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died on the cross for our sins. If we want forgiveness, then we must first turn to Him, lay all our cards on the table, and ask Him for forgiveness and the strength to live in His grace and mercy, sinning no more. We should go to Him privately and confess to Him.
God reminds us, "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12 NRSV) This is God's promise to you and me.
Why not turn to Him today? Get down on your knees, if you are able, or just get comfortable, and pray. If you want to enjoy being in heaven with Him, then that is the first thing that you need to do today.
Prayer: Our heavenly Father, Abba, You know what is in our hearts. Sometimes, we want to confess our sins, but we are afraid to approach You. Thank You, Father, for the many chances that You give us to approach You. May we come to You and find forgiveness and peace today. We give You the praise and the glory. Amen.
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Thank-you Yvonne.
Spot on message today!!
Amen, Yvonne, from a fellow firstborn.
Thank you, Yvonne. Good job! Very clear message.
Great job Yvonne! Lovely devotional that many can relate to! Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today!
Blessings.
Hi Yvonne! I pray you are well and will enjoy the day. You were brought up in a very special environment for Godly conscience, repentance and accountability is so lacking nowadays. Thank you for writing and sharing with us.
We know that we service a God of mercy and because he wants all his children to be with him in heaven, he gives us endless opportunities to seek him and repent. Thanks for sharing your young life experiences. Have a blessed Holy week.
Thank you for today’s devotional – it was wonderful! We need to ask for forgiveness from Jesus to be forgiven or there is no way to be ready for His return and get to Heaven. Thank you for the gentle reminder to us all that we need Jesus’ forgiveness and mercy.
Thank you, Yvonne, for your very encouraging and mindful words today. Yes, we must be so thankful that the Lord is ever ready to serve us and also to forgive us for any wrong doings when we come to Him with our pleas.
Blessings for your special writings.
Thank you for the well written and thoughtful devotion. It made me think about how good I am at confessing my sins. I have no trouble with asking for forgiveness, I need blind eyes to see my shortcomings. I am the typical one to see the splinter in my brother’s eye. May the Lord bless you for your service in writing.
Good morning, Yvonne,
Thank you for this devotional today. Funny I too had a granny who thought a lot like yours.
But I am so thankful I too have a Father like you do who forgives and forgets, gives mercy and love.
We serve a loving God!
God bless.
You’re so right about our/my tendency not to examine my own thoughts and actions. In fact, I’m so reluctant to admit sinful words and deeds that I can’t even see them in myself, so I have to ask the Lord to SHOW me my faults and sinful ways!! Thank you for your picture of a wonderful grandmother who livened your conscience from an early age. She must have done it well and lovingly since it led you to repentance and not to rebellion or resentment. I love picture reflections. Thank you so much.
Good morning, Yvonne,
Great reminder of who easily we can sin and that we can ask God for forgiveness. It took me a long time on my journey to learn about the every day small sins and not just the big ones in the ten commandments. I try to reflect on my day, so I can pray with God. I can judge so easily, or not share willingly or see when I can be of help to others. I feel that I catch myself faster and more aware of how my actions impact others.
I enjoyed your thoughts on when you were a child and your interactions with your grandmother. Not to many children are willing to own up to what they have done, so you were quite unusual, and your grandmother didn’t recognize it. I am sure your grandmother loved you dearly. Blessings.
This is in line with a discussion I had today.