Most Amazing God,
The Greek word which we translate as forgiveness (aphiemi) literally means “to let go”. Some say when it refers to Your forgiveness it is better translated “to wipe from memory”. In Jeremiah and in Hebrews it is stated You “will remember their sins no more”. Help us to understand, O God, when You forgive You forget. Our earnest prayer this day, O Lord, is that we be forgiven. There are times when we seek Your forgiveness but refuse to forgive others: family, friends, strangers, even enemies. May we earnestly strive to be forgiving people. May we see the goodness in others and wipe from our memory others transgressions against us. Jesus even employs us to pray to You, forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Give us strength, Dear God, to forgive as we have been forgiven. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
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Pray for our Mission Camp team of seventeen as they do their work in Stillwater.
The scripture for today is Romans 10:5-21:
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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