2010-11-10 - New Every Morning

Have you ever watched the ocean, as the tide moves the water in and out? With every wave, some things are washed out to sea, while others are washed ashore - seashells, driftwood etc. If you are at an East-West beach, you can see entirely different shells every day - in fact, with every wave. Likewise, no matter what we have done, no matter our situation - with God - every day is brand new with our "God of second chances." Every day can be a fresh start for us. As Lamentations reminds us, we can revel in his mercies and love every day:

Lamentations 3:22-23 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) [Because of] the LORD's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. ²³ They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

And in fact, we can experience his mercy and forgiveness every time we sin - if we confess and sincerely repent - which Biblically includes not just verbalizing our anguish over our sin, but also necessitates a turnaround of heart and behavior - which results from God's washing our sins out to sea and cleansing our hearts.

1 John 1:9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Do we still have to live with Earthly consequences of our sins? The answer is often yes. As God's word teaches us, we reap what we sow. But even so, God can bless us in spite of our mistakes, and can even use those mistakes to grow us up in Him, and to help others, as well. May we never forget that every day is a brand-new chance to experience God's love and mercy.

Jan

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