Day 13: Mercy and Forgiveness
March 2
by Lance Hassan
Readings:
Reflection:
To watch this devotional as a video after reading the scriptures of the day, click HERE
"Today, we look at verses from Daniel chapter 9 and Luke chapter 6. Daniel 9:4-10 NIV may be summarized in verses 8-9:
Daniel 9:8 NIV:
“We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.
Here, Daniel is praying for the city leaders and people of Jerusalem who have forsaken God and deserve punishment. However, the very next verse praises God for his mercy, which is ultimately what Daniel is doing in this chapter, pleading for God’s mercy on Jerusalem and His people of Israel.
Daniel 9:9 NIV:
“The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;”
We, disciples of Jesus, all sin in some way regularly. We, too, must pray for God’s mercy, and I feel a conviction that we must follow Daniel’s example and pray for leaders. Leaders in our churches, political leaders, and professional leaders all need our prayers for wisdom to understand God’s will and allow it to influence their decisions to glorify God and protect His creation.
Just as Daniel prayed for God’s forgiveness and mercy upon Jerusalem, so do we pray for God’s forgiveness of our sins and His mercy in our daily lives. In the New Testament, Luke reminds us that we must treat others as we wish God to treat us. If we want God to forgive our sins and be merciful to us, so must we forgive the sins of others and be merciful to them.
Luke 6:36-38 NIV:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
This passage from Luke helps reinforce the point he made earlier in this chapter.
Luke 6:31 NIV
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
As we conclude this devotional, consider how much better this world would be if everyone would show mercy and forgiveness to those who have wronged them. All the conflict and bitterness in this world may disappear, and we could be left with an approximation of heaven on earth.
Today, let us pray for mercy and forgiveness to proliferate our world, our leaders to honor God with their decisions and actions, and a firm resolution to repent and follow God’s commandments."
Song:
My Soul in Stillness Waits – Marty Haugen
Content for wisdom and contentment at: urenuf.life
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