Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Oregon Coast by Debra Davis 2018
Today’s Bible Reading:
Numbers 19; Psalm 56-57; Isaiah 8:1-9:7: James 2
It always gives me a thrill to read the prophecies in Isaiah. How many hundreds of years before Christ’s birth these things were spoken of Him just gives me goosebumps when I think about it. Such familiar words that I am find myself wanting to dwell on this morning.
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them. -Is. 9:2, NASB
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. -Is. 9:6-7, NASB
I cannot help myself; I am singing Handel’s Messiah this morning…For unto us a child is born…. And as I consider what that Child has done for me how can I not take James 2:12-13 “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” I have been shown such great mercy. I who once walked in great darkness, a death sentence hanging over my head because of my sin, who now walks in the light of God’s great love for His people, how can I not show mercy to others? I confess I do sometimes struggle. I have looked down my little nose at times at the sins of others-ugh-where was mercy then? I mean, how does one show mercy to one whose sin is so repulsive, like a child molester, a rapist, a murderer. It is a very good thing that I am not God!
At least in this country, we have become a people who are very quick to condemn others when their sin is revealed-or perhaps I should say when accusers come forward-but an accused is not always even guilty. I have had my eyes opened recently to the vast numbers of people who confess to things they never did because of a very broken justice system. Jesus Himself was condemned to death as an innocent man, and in today’s climate I wonder how many would rally around the cry to crucify Him? All I have to do is read the comment section on news articles to know the sad, sad answer to that. How quick we are to judge and condemn. But that should not be the way of the follower of Jesus Christ-whether a person is innocent or guilty. I must remember that I too was under a death sentence for my very own, very real guilt. We have been show such great mercy, let’s bring the Light of Christ into this dark world in the same way-by showing great mercy to others.
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra
Numbers 19; Psalm 56-57; Isaiah 8:1-9:7: James 2
It always gives me a thrill to read the prophecies in Isaiah. How many hundreds of years before Christ’s birth these things were spoken of Him just gives me goosebumps when I think about it. Such familiar words that I am find myself wanting to dwell on this morning.
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them. -Is. 9:2, NASB
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. -Is. 9:6-7, NASB
I cannot help myself; I am singing Handel’s Messiah this morning…For unto us a child is born…. And as I consider what that Child has done for me how can I not take James 2:12-13 “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” I have been shown such great mercy. I who once walked in great darkness, a death sentence hanging over my head because of my sin, who now walks in the light of God’s great love for His people, how can I not show mercy to others? I confess I do sometimes struggle. I have looked down my little nose at times at the sins of others-ugh-where was mercy then? I mean, how does one show mercy to one whose sin is so repulsive, like a child molester, a rapist, a murderer. It is a very good thing that I am not God!
At least in this country, we have become a people who are very quick to condemn others when their sin is revealed-or perhaps I should say when accusers come forward-but an accused is not always even guilty. I have had my eyes opened recently to the vast numbers of people who confess to things they never did because of a very broken justice system. Jesus Himself was condemned to death as an innocent man, and in today’s climate I wonder how many would rally around the cry to crucify Him? All I have to do is read the comment section on news articles to know the sad, sad answer to that. How quick we are to judge and condemn. But that should not be the way of the follower of Jesus Christ-whether a person is innocent or guilty. I must remember that I too was under a death sentence for my very own, very real guilt. We have been show such great mercy, let’s bring the Light of Christ into this dark world in the same way-by showing great mercy to others.
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra
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