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1998-12-11 - Breaking the Sound Barrier
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between
you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will
not hear.
As you drive along the freeway, once in a while that freeway passes close
to neighborhoods. Often, there will be a wall situated between the freeway
and the neighborhood. That wall is there to block absorb some of the noise
so that the people in the neighborhoods are not constantly plagued with honking
horns and the sounds of hundreds of wheels turning on pavement. It's a sound
barrier.
When there is sin in our lives, there is a wall separating between us and
God. It, too, is a sound barrier. Although God loves us with an everlasting
love, He cannot look on sin because He is holy.
Romans 5:8 But, God commendeth His love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
His love never changes, but there is still that wall erected by us, by our
sin, that creates a problem.
I have a dear friend who has been plagued by problems. Misery is written
on her face. There is a hardness to her that wasn't there before. I sense
that she is steeling herself for the next blow. I feel so awful for her,
but there is nothing I can do for her but to pray for her. She has erected
a wall against pain, and in so doing, has erected a wall against the One
Who is waiting for her to just come to Him.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
The two phrases that we humans seem to hate to use the most are, "I'm sorry"
and "I was wrong". And yet, those are the only two phrases that can knock
the wall down.
1 Peter 5:5b God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace
to the humble.
He gives grace to the humble. Amazing. Our God, our Holy King, our Perfect
and Righteous Lord is waiting, patiently and lovingly for us. I can picture
Him on the other side of the wall - wrecking ball ready to swing.
Only three words are necessary. Go for it.
Father God, we are stubborn and proud. We refuse to
give up our right to be wrong. We justify and excuse ourselves. Situation
ethics has taken the place of right and wrong. And yet, You are Holy. You
gave us rules to live by. You require that we stand before You Holy and without
blame. And You, because You know that we are just dust, gave us the means
to be Holy and without blame. Father, I thank You for Your Son who shed His
blood and bare our sins in His own body on the tree. I thank you that in
order for You to hear my prayers, I don't have to do anything except bow
my head and my heart and say that I am sorry. I'm sorry. Lord, thank You
that You live in me and offer me Your strength to say "no" to sin. Lord,
forgive me for the times that I forget that. Thank You for allowing me a
chance to try again and get it right. I love You, Lord. Amen
Sandi
cfdevsandi@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
2011-06-29
2012-11-20 |
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