Bible Reading: Zechariah 10-12; Revelation 20.
Memory Verse: “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.” Zechariah 10:6 (KJV)
God is ever ready to show mercy irrespective of your past. He is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy ( Psalm 103:8). God’s mercy is unlimited as long as you come to him with a sincere heart asking for mercy and willing to forsake your sins going forward. Sometimes ago, an elderly man gave his life to Christ but felt Jesus may not be able to forgive him his sins given its enormity. The pastor that led him to Christ gave him assurance that God had forgiven him all. He espoused the word of God to him. The man rejoiced and came back after a few days asking the same question. Then to show the enormity of his sins, he said there was a time he took a seven day old child and killed him to make some charms and asked if God would forgive such heinous sins! He was re-assured again by the Pastor, citing the example of Saul of Tarsus and showing him Bible passages such as Isaiah 1:18 to support his assertion. Then the man was so joyous not only at his forgiveness but also the magnanimity of our Lord Jesus.
Are you also having concerns about the enormity of your sin and whether God will forgive you? He has said “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” ( Proverbs 28:13 KJV). So go ahead and confess your sins to God and ask for mercy. He will grant it to you as long as you show remorse for the sins and sincerity to completely forsake them.
God’s mercy is for everyone and that’s why you should show mercy to everyone as well. If you harbour any form of unforgiveness against someone who offends you and you refuse to forgive that person but such a person goes to dedicate his life to Christ. If he dies, he may make heaven but if you die without forgiving the person, you will not make it because God will not forgive you your sins as well (Matthew 6:15). This is why you should always forgive those who offend you.
When God forgives, it’s like as if you had not sin before. Thus when he forgave Judah, He said “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.” Zechariah 10:6 (KJV). So when you forgive, it should also be total such that it would be as if the person had not offended you before!
Activity Point: Is there anyone that offended you and you have not forgiven, show mercy and forgive that person now and ask God to have mercy on you.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero