Three words. “Please forgive me.”
They are underscored with the sinking feeling of being in the wrong…of needing to make things right. They are humbling. But once said, they result in liberation. They produce freedom – a fresh start – a clean slate.
This morning I had to say them.
Not to my husband or my friend.
But to my God.
Once again the power of the Word of God came to the fore in my life. I am doing a Bible school class – a general Bible survey where you read through the Bible in a year and have weekly lectures on each section. I’ve arrived at the end of the Old Testament and today had the last two books to read.
The seldom opened pages of Zechariah and Malachi contain profound, ancient truths that God used this morning to move my heart and once again had me marvelling at the power of His Word. No one can miss the meaning of the message I read this morning. Penned so long ago, yet so pertinent to life in 2015 and before and after. They never lose their impact. They are valid and relevant regardless of who you are or what you believe. Their truth is consistently woven throughout the Bible, both Old Testament and New. Their simplicity concise and even child-like.
I first read Zechariah 7:10
In your hearts do not think evil of each other.
Shew. That’s pretty straightforward and to my horror exactly what I have NOT been doing recently. I have been thinking evil of others. Even when the others are those who share my faith, I’ve been thinking evil of them. Ouch.
That was a tough pill to swallow and gave me that sickly sinking feeling.
“Please forgive me.”
I wrote the verse in caplocks across the top of the page of my Bible.
I read on, finishing Zechariah and reading Malachi. The next step of the lesson came in Malachi 2:2
…you have not set your heart to honour Me.
Two verses, both on what’s going on in your heart. God sees the heart. No one else can. It reminded me of Jeremiah 17:10
But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.
“Please forgive me.”
It’s a new day. A new opportunity to turn my heart fully back to God. To set my heart to honour God above all else.
None of me; all of Him.
Thank you, Jesus for your forgiveness.
I love the Word of God. Powerful to the end.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx