January 4, 2020 – Click here to listen
Yesterday I got up early to study my Bible and then I went fishing with a friend and his better half. My wife didn’t go because she didn’t want to get up early, (a decision she regretted later in the day.) It was a beautiful picture perfect day with gentle breezes and temperatures in the low 80’s and the fishing was good. For the most part I drove the boat and let them catch the fish except for the few times that we got a triple header. It was a little windy very early but dropped down to a gentle breeze by mid-morning.
It was a fun-filled day and when we had our fill of catching fish we returned to the dock and my wife came over to meet us. While my buddy and I cleaned the fish and boat, the women sat on the dock and talked.
I was thinking about our fun trip this morning and trying to relate to the world around me. People are suffering from financial ruin, the pandemic, stress over the chaos in the world, the election, being politically correct, race, gender, and so on and none of that even entered my mind.
Before I left to go fishing yesterday, I read the following verse:
Nehemiah 9:17 . . .
But You are God,
Ready to pardon.
Gracious and merciful.
Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them.
This to me is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible and describes God as accurately as I’ve seen. Ezra was talking about God forgiving the nation of Israel for their sins and allowing them to return to Land had promised them from slavery in Babylon. When I read it yesterday, I underlined it and read and reread it several times. I thanked God for forgiving my sins and allowing me safe passage to Him out of the pigsty from which I had sunken. The first part of that verse, (not shown), not only describes the Jews in the height of their sin it describes me when sin was coursing through me like a raging dark storm:
“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck . . . “
The misery inflicted upon me as a homeless addict on the street with no family, or friends was a self-inflicted situation for the most part. I was wallowing in self-pity and sank into the depths of my sin like a pig, proud, rebellious, disobedient, indifferent, and full of hate. I stiffened my neck against God and I suffered my way through the darkness and depravity.
I finally came to the realization that I was miserable and needed change in my life and upon reading the Bible I began to understand that God is a God of forgiveness. All we need to do is humble ourselves and seek Him and simply ask in all sincerity that He change our lives.
When we suffer – quite naturally we wonder if God loves us. Yet this passage removes any and all doubt. God always loves and forgives those who seek His name. What wonderful words to hear? God is always ready to forgive. These words are some of the most comforting found in our Bible.
We so often struggle with God’s love. When we sin – we wonder if God still loves us due to our guilt. Yes of course He does. Ask for His forgiveness in such times and turn from that sin. His desire is for calm seas, bluebird skies, and smiling content faces for every last one of us. Before you write there is no doubt he also allows us to experience storms and the sea can get ugly at times, but the good news is that we can face the storms knowing He loves us ALWAYS.
The choice is ours my friends. Peace can only be obtained through Jesus Christ. For without Him misery will be our only companion. As for me I choose calm seas and smooth sailing. Believe in Christ and you shall be saved.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”