Bible Reading: Zechariah 7-9; Revelation 19.
Memory Verse: “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:” Zechariah 7:9 (KJV)
The year 2023 is fastly coming to an end and everyone will like to end the year on a very good note. But is everyone ready to do what it takes to end it well? Most times, what is needed to be done is the simple things while people search for very complicated matters and they thus miss the opportunity.
A testimony is shared of a man who had only one daughter from her deceased wife and he made up his mind never to remarry but to nurture his only child till she would be given in marriage. The man loved his daughter so much and spent his life and resources nurturing her until she was old enough for marriage. Then a suitor came and the man explained his background to him and requested that he should not maltreat his daughter for any reason. The potential husband promised to take excellent care of the woman. But after marriage, he started beating the woman such that one day, he chased the woman with an instrument to maim or even kill her! The woman escaped to her father’s house and he was very furious with the husband. He made up his mind, he would have nothing to do with the daughter’s husband any more!
After a while, he was ill and kept bloating up and all medical treatment was to no avail. Then he went to a man of God who was about praying for him when God told him to ask the man to forgive the person who wronged him if he wanted to be well. The man after much persuasion agreed and went to her daughter’s husband and after a short discussion decided to hug him to show he had completely forgiven him. In the process, his marriage ring which had become impossible to remove because of his bloating up, fell from his finger to show that his body had shrunk miraculously back to his normal self! That is how he got healed without any other prayer from the man of God. That is the potency of forgiveness. So has anyone offended you and you refused to forgive? Please change your mind for your own good! Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV) says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
To end the year well therefore, you have to heed the instructions given by God to one of his prophets stated in Zechariah 7:9 (KJV), “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:”
You need to ensure you do not show bias in your judgment in the office, at place of work, in the church and in any place you find yourself irrespective of the status of people involved. The Lord is merciful to you and others and so you need to show mercy and compassion in all your dealings with others and you will be amazed how God will surprise you.
Prayer point:
Father, please give me the grace to show love, mercy and compassion to others and let me end this year on a great note in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero