Good morning. Jesus

Good morning. Jesus tells us that there are two paths in front of us today. One is wide and leads to destruction, the other is narrow and leads to life. He is the way the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father but by Him. He beckons all men to follow Him into life and salvation. I thank God for any and all who have already responded to His call, and am reminded that He is with us personally, and calls us into that simple walk today, "Follow Me" Lord, That is Your Word, and our heart is to follow You. We love You.

Forgiveness and grace and mercy

How interesting that in two instances in the Bible, God chose to not even mention the sin He had forgiven.

Take for example King David.......In 2nd Sam 11, David himself went into great detail about his sin of adultery and murder. ( It's believed that David wrote 2nd Sam ) But, then later in 1st Chron 20, Ezra when talking about the same period of time as 2nd Sam 11, chose not to even mention the sin(s)

And, then, over in the NT, it says, 2Pe 2:7* and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

In the above verse, the Lord refers to him as "righteous" Lot. Yet we know that he had his share of problems and sins.

Does God just overlook sin? No, not at all. What God does do, is to forgive sin. He paid for our sins when He sent Jesus to the cross. And thus, for any person who has received Christ, their sins have been forgiven.

In our dealings with others, the Lord would have us to be just like Him when it comes to someones sin. Let's walk in forgiveness, grace and mercy.

Remember, 2Pe 2:7* and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

Longsuffering......

It means to suffer long with someone or with a situation. What a blessing to know that when we are facing difficulties, or dealing with people who are difficult, that we can have from the Lord what is called longsuffering.

In the book of Ps's, David declared concering God ......Ps 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. The word actually, means slow, longwinded, patient. and slow to anger. In other words, being slow to anger and patient is part of God's very nature.

In Galatians, when Paul is talking about the fruit of the Spirit, he says, Ga 5:22* But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

As God's children, we have His nature within us, and the bearing of fruit, which is what He is, is what Jesus said the Lord has called us to do. Be fruitful, bear fruit and so on.

One other very encouraging thing, and I think we forget this so easily, and that is, that we can pray for the Holy Spirit to give us this longsuffering. Paul the apostle did this very thing when he prayed for the Christians in Colosse.

Col 1:11* strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

So, whether is a person, or a situation and circumstance that is a challenge and difficulty for you, God says that He will help you be patient in it, and that He wants to give this longsuffering to you, and to help you. Can I pray for you right now....

Father, I dont's know who may be reading this, but You do. I don't know the exact circumstance in this person's life, but You do. And, I'm simply asking in the name of Jesus for that wonderful and helpful grace of "longsuffering" to be in their lives, to help them in their time of need. And, as a p.s, Lord, I am asking it for myself as well.

Thank You Father, in Jesus name.