He Pardons Iniquity

 

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 

                                                                                   (Micah 7:18-19 KJV)

Unfortunately, humankind does not pardon iniquity easily. We can hold a grudge forever and in doing so we bring about even more iniquity.  We usually cause more iniquity; we often sin when we are angry or hurt. 

Jesus tells us to love one another and not to hate even those who persecute you.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

                                                                                   (Matt 5:44-45)

The Lord desires that we should forgive one another. But, we are not required to stay in situation or relationships that will provoke us to continue to live in a sinful manner. St. Paul wrote to the Romans: 

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Rom 16:17)

Micah tells us that God will subdue our iniquities. If God will do that for us; if God will forgive us our sins; why would we walk right back into that which inspires us to sin? Daniel could walk into a lions den and live. You and I should most probably not try that if we want to live. We should not test God. 

When the devil took Jesus up and set him on a pinnacle of the temple he told Jesus that if he really were the Son of God then he should jump and God will send His angels to save him.

"Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (Matt 4:7)

If the very Son of God would not test his Father in heaven, neither should we.

Yet, when we do test God by going against His will, God is willing and able to pardon our iniquities. Unlike us, God does not retain his anger forever. Unlike us, He is always ready to be merciful. 

Forgive one another; but, try to stay out of situations that will require you to receive forgiveness yourself later. It will make life a whole lot easier to live.

May the God of mercy, subdue our iniquities and forgive us all of our sins.  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Refined On The Way

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside."  (Job 23:10-11 NIV)

Unlike Job, I would dare to say that none of can say that we have kept to the way of the Lord without ever turning aside. There have been moments in all of our lives. "As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
    there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one. (Rom 3:10-12)

Job was an amazing man who was always faithful to the Lord according to most interpretations of the story. I have never been able to fully accept this. I've been around. I know people. I know me. I have a very difficult time accepting that anyone is that righteous. He may have closely followed. He may have even kept to his way without turning aside. But, I wonder if he ever stumbled on the path and was in need of being picked back up by the Lord. If he had not; if he was perfectly righteous to begin with why would he say that was he was tested he would come forth as gold?

Job was tested and when he was he did; after all, question God.  He was not at all happy about the trials that God was allowing him to be tested with. He was quite grieved. We too become grieved when put through trials and testings. We become grieved when we walk through fiery ordeals. But, just as Job did, we need to remember that the fires are meant to refine so that once we have walked through the fire we will come out more pure than even silver or gold when they have been refined.

Be careful to stay on the path. You may feel like you are stumbling and falling; but, be assured the Lord will lift you up. According to the prophecy of Daniel: "Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time." (Dan 11:35)

    I will refine them like silver
    and test them like gold.
They will call on my name

    and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.

(Zech 13:9) 

God's Peace - Pr. J