Do you remember, as a child, having done something you knew was wrong, against your parent’s rules, and were caught. Then feeling so terrible and repentant that you came, possibly crying, to your parents expecting severe punishment. However, your parents seeing how sorry you were for your mistake, and how seriously you were punishing yourself emotionally, they let you go, un-punished.

If you are like me, you may have experienced this situation from both the child and parent’s perspective.

This situation is modeled for us by God.

In Joel 2:12-13, God tells Joel, the prophet, to tell the people, “That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me all your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your remorse tear at your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered; he is full of kindness and anxious not to punish you.”

God loves us and wishes for us to correct our ways on our own, without the need for His punishment and discipline.

This is ultimately demonstrated by Jesus Christ coming to take the punishment for us. John 3:16-17 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Dear Lord, we can get a very small understanding of the love you have for us by witnessing the love we see between parents and children. Help us remember that you love us, and come to you in humble repentance, thankful for your grace and mercy. And Lord, if this is not type of love we received from our parents, let us be the new creation and show this type of gracious love to our children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Bible makes it pretty clear that we are to forgive those who have wronged us. In fact in the Lord’s prayer we pray that God would forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. In Matthew 6:15 Jesus tells us, ” But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” NLT

What really is forgiveness? It is us giving up what we think is our “right” to harm someone because they harmed us. We also call it vengeance or revenge. As Christians, when we forgive, we hand over this decision and role to God. We don’t know what God will do, but “getting even” is no longer our concern.

Paul writes in Romans 12:19, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”

As with much of how we should live as Christians, it is not easy, but with God’s help we can do anything.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your forgiveness of our sinful lives, help us follow your example and forgive those who have done us wrong. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You probably know the account of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers and subsequently becoming very powerful in Egypt. I don’t imagine that Joseph had any idea about the good that would occur later in his life as a result of what his brothers did.

In Genesis 50:20 he reveals himself to his brothers and says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

How often do things happen to us that we think are terrible, but they result in something good later on. God has a plan for each of us which may include events that are not pleasant, but are necessary to accomplish something good.

Dear Lord, we cannot even begin to understand the reasons and complexity of Your plans. Help us trust that you have things under control in our lives and when we do, even what seems terrible You will use for good. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Some people are tempted into believing they have strayed so far from God’s will that they cannot be forgiven and reconciled. This is a lie the devil puts in their minds.

God tells us through Isaiah 44:22, “I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”

We need only accept the gift of Grace that God has given, to return to him. He saves us. Paul tells us in Romans 8:39, ” nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for your Grace. Help those who feel beyond forgiveness to know that you are waiting for their return. We must only accept your gift. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus told his disciples recorded in John 15:18,19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

Yesterday, tragically, a wonderful young Christian husband and father was assassinated while speaking to several thousand college students as he had done many times before. Charlie Kirk who’s mission was to share and defend the gospel of Christ, Christian values, and American patriotism with college students around the country and around the world, was assassinated for who he was and what he was doing.

This is another example of Satan using people who love the world’s way and hate Jesus’ way, to do his will. Like those Satan led people who have gunned down school children in Christian schools. He hates Jesus, and hates those who follow Jesus. Paul writes in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Charlie Kirk like the apostle Paul was not ashamed to share His Christian views of morality and character, and he was hated by people who opposed those views. Satan used these people ultimately to kill Charlie.

Today also we remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001 also resulting from the demonic hate of Americans and Christians.

We must remember that Jesus said we are not of the world, He chose us out of the world. Those that follow the politics of hate and violence, and cult religions of hate and violence will hate us because we follow Jesus. Even as Christians, we must all question whether our allegiance is to the way of the world or the way of Jesus.

Dear Lord, how painful it is for those of us who follow you when we see these tragic events targeting your followers. Bring comfort to Charlie Kirk’s family, his millions of supporters and the thousands he influenced to change their lives and follow you. Protect us from the influence of the Devil and those people he influences to do evil. Use these tragedies for you purposes to awaken people to your way of love, peace and salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.