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Today's Scripture: This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24, NKJV. Today's Word: A lot of times, it can be easier to have faith for the future. We believe “one day” we’ll get a good break. “One day” we’ll feel better. “One day” the problem will turn around. If we’re not careful, we’re always putting our faith off, believing that in the future something good is going to happen. But, true faith is always in the present. God is called “the Great I Am” not “the Great I Will Be.” He wants to show you His goodness, His favor and His mercy today! If this is going to happen, you can’t just have faith for the future. You have to believe that “today is my day.” “This could be the day my health improves.” “This could be the day I get the phone call I’ve been waiting for.” “This could be the day my child comes back home.” There has to be an expectancy that something good is going to happen. Not next week. Not next year. Not in the sweet by and by. No, expect that today is your day and watch what God will do in every area of your life! Prayer for Today: Father, thank You for today. Thank You for Your hand of blessing, provision, guidance, hope and love. I look for You to work on my behalf and praise You in advance for what You are going to do today in Jesus’ name! Amen. |
Forgiveness: There’s a Right Way and a Wrong Way to Ask
But, there’s a right way and a wrong way to ask for forgiveness. Let me tell you the wrong way.
First, don’t beg. God wants to forgive you more than you want to ask for it. You’re not waiting on God; he’s waiting on you.
Second, don’t bargain. Bargaining is saying, “God, if you will forgive me, I will never do this again!” If that’s your area of weakness, you will be back in that area of sin in a matter of hours or days. Don’t bargain with God and say, “I’ll never do it again,” because you will.
Third, don’t bribe. Bribing is saying, “God, if you’ll just forgive me for this, I will …” You’ll go to church every week. You will read your Bible every day. You will tithe 15 … 20 percent! But God doesn’t want or need your bribe.
So what do you do?
You don’t beg, bargain, or bribe. You just believe.
You believe the many promises of God that tell you if you confess your sins, he will forgive your sins. Period.
Another great verse of promise is Romans 3:24: “Yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sin” (LB).
I know what some of you are thinking: “Rick, you don’t know what I’ve done.” And you’re right. I don’t know what you’ve done. I don’t need to know what you’ve done. But I can tell you this: It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.
Your forgiveness is not based on how little or how much you’ve sinned. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. What matters is what Jesus has done for you. That’s what the cross is all about! When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he meant it. It’s done. The price has been paid. You can be forgiven today.
Talk It Over
by Rick Warren
“Yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sin.” (Romans 3:24 LB)
When you confess your sin to God, he does not rub it in; he wipes it out!But, there’s a right way and a wrong way to ask for forgiveness. Let me tell you the wrong way.
First, don’t beg. God wants to forgive you more than you want to ask for it. You’re not waiting on God; he’s waiting on you.
Second, don’t bargain. Bargaining is saying, “God, if you will forgive me, I will never do this again!” If that’s your area of weakness, you will be back in that area of sin in a matter of hours or days. Don’t bargain with God and say, “I’ll never do it again,” because you will.
Third, don’t bribe. Bribing is saying, “God, if you’ll just forgive me for this, I will …” You’ll go to church every week. You will read your Bible every day. You will tithe 15 … 20 percent! But God doesn’t want or need your bribe.
So what do you do?
You don’t beg, bargain, or bribe. You just believe.
You believe the many promises of God that tell you if you confess your sins, he will forgive your sins. Period.
Another great verse of promise is Romans 3:24: “Yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sin” (LB).
I know what some of you are thinking: “Rick, you don’t know what I’ve done.” And you’re right. I don’t know what you’ve done. I don’t need to know what you’ve done. But I can tell you this: It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.
Your forgiveness is not based on how little or how much you’ve sinned. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. What matters is what Jesus has done for you. That’s what the cross is all about! When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he meant it. It’s done. The price has been paid. You can be forgiven today.
Talk It Over
- Why do you think God wants you to confess your sin when he already knows everything you’ve done?
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