Thought fir Day Monday 19 July

THOUGHT FOR MONDAY 19 JULY Isaiah 44:22 NIVUK I have swept away your offences like a cloud your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.’   So many people think they are ‘too bad’ to come to God. Even though they say they believe, they think they have done too much harm for God to forgive them. Sometimes it’s something they didn’t do that might have stopped harm being done to another person. A lot of army veterans think this way. Some may have seen one of their comrades injured, or worse. They may be wondering how much injury they themselves have caused and how God can ever forgive them, so they just shut down that side of themselves and suffer in silence, not able to seek and accept the love and comfort of the very one who cares most. We cannot always find a way to convince ourselves that God can forgive us for the pain we cause to others. Too often we forget that there is nothing that God cannot do (except lie). He is in the business of forgiveness, we are His children and He is the ultimate, perfect parent. When one of the little ones in your life does something wrong, do you hold it against them for the rest of their life? Of course not. You may give them a row but then later you give them a hug to let them know that you still love them. Why would the God of Love be any different, are we better that He is? We only know how to love because He loved us first! As Isaiah says, God has swept away our offences and invites us to return to Him. God has known us since the very beginning of time, He knew the offences we would commit but He still made us who we are. Even knowing the hurt and pain we would cause Him He allowed us to be who we are because He knew that He could sweep away all our guilt if we let Him. To anyone who doubts they are forgiven, I just say JESUS DIED TO ENSURE OUR FORGIVENESS! His blood washes us clean! PRAYER Forgiving Father We are all aware that You will forgive us if we come to you with repentant hearts, willing to accept Your laws as our own. Please forgive us for the times when we slip up and need more help to follow the path Jesus showed us. We are made in Your image but because of the fall in the garden of Eden, we are flawed. Help us to cling to Your Son and His teachings as we live from day to day in this fallen world. Amen.