How many of us have looked at ourselves and wondered how on earth God could ever use us for anything good? We see our sins and our shortcomings and believe we don't meet the standards needed to be someone who can be part of God's plan. The truth is that it can. The Bible teaches that our sin stands between us and the Lord (Isaiah 59:2). We know that we are called to be righteous, yet we are well aware that we fall short of God’s glory per Romans 3:23. And yes, consistent and unrepentant sin - bad behavior - can lead to judgment.
Thank God for His grace and mercy. Thank God for His forgiveness, which He gives freely when we also forgive others. Thank God that He understands our human condition and doesn't treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). Take Moses, for example. He failed to obey God during a fit of anger, and the result was that God said he would not enter the promised land. Many of us would have gotten angry and walked away from God in frustration had we been in his shoes. Thankfully, Moses continued to serve the Lord all the way to the end. And that is the key. Even when we sin and fall short, we as Believers cannot elect to walk away from the Lord. We must remember that God does not reject His own. We can't allow satan to convince us otherwise and must resist every such suggestion.
Despite all that happened, God didn't reject Moses. His mercy and compassion spoke for his servant (Romans 9:15). We know this because Jude 1:9 tells us that God didn't allow Moses's body to be taken by satan. Instead, He honored him by sending an angel, Archangel Michael, to retrieve his body. God didn't stop there, though. He again honored Moses by making him one of only two great, but long-dead, prophets who appeared at His transfiguration. Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus and thereby acknowledged Him as God's Son in the presence of three disciples (Matthew 17:3). This event was recorded for all time in the Bible.
Moses illustrates that our sin doesn't have to eliminate us from further serving the Lord if we remain humble and continue to submit to Him. He can still choose to use us for His great purpose. We must choose to repent, accept, and receive God's forgiveness in faith, and keep walking with Him. He is charged with helping us do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). He has also given us His Spirit to guide us if we cooperate. We must remember Abraham, David, Elijah, and Jonah - men who 'messed up' but let God redeem and restore them for His purpose. If we behave as they did and do not become stiff-necked and unrepentant like King Asa, God is more than willing to give us another chance to be a part of His earthly plan.
Through Jesus, we have access to God's grace, mercy, and salvation. That blood spilled on the cross continues to speak a better word than that of Abel's (Hebrews 12:24). And as we let God transform us, we will see that nothing can "separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). God bless you.
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Gracious God, I pray all your ministers. Thank You for rescuing souls through them. Lord the bible says you will not forget their "labor of love". Lord if there's any distraction causing them to walk off your path, rescue them from the darkness and return them to your light in Jesus name. Thank You mighty redeemer, in Jesus name, amen
Dear God: thank You for giving me time to rest, thank You for providing us with our daily bread, thank You for keeping us safe