FREEDOM & FORGIVENESS

Wednesday's Devotion (4-6-05)

"And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain." 1 Samuel 12:20-21 (KJV)

Have you ever done something really horrible? Something so horrible, that you said, "I'm not worthy to continue following the Lord, I shouldn't even speak to Him." A lot of us have, and some of us even stayed away from the Lord. The truth of the matter is this: None of us are worthy, but we are made worthy through Christ! The voices, the thoughts that say, "You're a disgrace, you can't go before the Lord like this," are all lies! Those thoughts/voices are the voices of Satan. If he can get you to believe those lies, then he has gained a victory over you. You have to see it, see it for what it is! You can be forgiven, and even though you aren't worthy to go before the Lord... you have been made worthy through Christ. No matter what you've done, or where you've been. If you want to be saved and forgiven, then you can. You can do it without any guilt. You know what this is called? FREEDOM! Freedom is yours today. Reach out and take it.

Not only did Samuel tell these people in the scriptures, to continue following the Lord... He told them something that we all need to be told. He told them, "...Fear not..." Can you imagine doing something wrong, running from the police, and having someone say, "Fear not?" Can you even imagine someone saying that about your sins? Well, someone is. That person saying, "Fear not," is the Lord Himself! He doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us to live in freedom and forgiveness. Freedom and forgiveness are some of our greatest gifts. Don't let anyone lie to you, and take away your freedom and the faith that brings you forgiveness. I've let it happen to me, it's a horrible feeling. It's a horrible and dark time. Without freedom and forgiveness, life just seems dark. Freedom and forgiveness go hand in hand.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins, and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Help us to be aware of the forgiveness you give, and the freedom you give. Help us to never be ashamed to come to you. In Jesus name. A-men!

God bless!

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