GOD'S TRANSFORMING WORK

We had a friend over that we have not seen in about 5 years. During that absence in our lives she has been saved. It is amazing to see the transformation that God does in a persons life. We asked her what brought her to repentance and her answer was great. She said that she truly understood how sinful she was and what it meant to have a broken and contrite heart before God.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

It was such a sweet reminder to me that God does not despise a person that is broken over their sin, repents, and puts their trust in HIM alone. I continue to deal with my pride and at times I forget this simple verse and the Lord causes me to repent as He uses His Word and other believers in my life to expose my sin to me. Lord Jesus please don't ever stop doing this sanctifying work in my life. Lord cause me to continue to be broken over my sin - Lord I have rebelled against you and the result of this rebelling is my sins of commission and omission that are offenses against You and Your ownership of me. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me, keeping me saved, and the promise that You will finish the work You have started in my life.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

I was thinking today of relationships I have had and still have of people that has shown me much grace in dealing with me. I have sinned against many people in my life through my words and actions and still have received grace from these folks to forgive me and love me regardless of my immaturity. I think of all the regrets in this area that I have had in the past of not having a forgiving heart toward others and even viewing them a certain way and not allowing them to change. I would hate for others to put me in a box and keep me there even though I continue to mature and become more like Christ. Lord Jesus - thank YOU that YOU don't do that to me. I want to Learn from YOUR example to have a heart that does not hold onto offenses done against me.

Let's all live without regrets and if you are holding onto stuff that should have been forgiven long ago - seek those folks out that you have had these attitudes toward and seek their forgiveness. Unity in the Body of Christ is paramount to our Christian life.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.