Mission--FORGIVENESS

Can you remember the feeling you had when you knew you had done wrong and were just sure that you were about to be caught? We can all relate to that dark, lonely, sickening feeling of impending doom. What we needed, but seemed impossible, was forgiveness. What was done could not be undone, so our only real hope for restoration was forgiveness. Forgiveness goes beyond mercy to restore the relationship that was lost. The restored relationship is improved (because of the knowledge of that undeserved forgiveness), cemented by an understanding of the love that was necessary to go beyond the offense to genuine forgiveness and unity.

(Acts 26:18-19) “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, …I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”

People need us to be faithful to the heavenly vision so that they too may receive forgiveness. This is Missions.

HOPE

 

 Hope is a blessed thing. Biblical hope is one of the three great graces listed in 1Corinthians, it promises rest for the weary, and is so powerful that even in the most troublesome times the hopeful can rejoice and not be ashamed that trouble has fallen upon us. Paul wrote that the God of hope would fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope. I pray that our hope is so evidently supernatural that people will ask, “What reason could you possibly have to be so hopeful?” May our answer always be, “Jesus.” Keeping our eyes on Jesus always makes our problems seem smaller.