~~~ 1 Kings 21:17-29 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Matthew 5:43-48 ~~~
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Yesterday's story continues only now God gets personally involved.
God sends Elijah to render his verdict against Ahab and his wife, Jezebel.
The verdict rendered by God was harsh and far reaching.
The future generations of Ahab would also
pay for the crime of their parents.
“Because you have given yourself up to doing
evil in the LORD’s sight,
I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy you
and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line...
Ahab and Jezebel did not think for a minute
that they would be judged by God for their crime of murder.
They clearly believed that no one suspected
the evil plan to kill Naboth had been orchestrated by the king's wife.
Amazingly Ahab came to his senses upon
hearing God's plan for the future of his family.
We might think Ahab did not deserve to be forgiven by God,
but that is exactly what God did.
God forgave Ahab, but not in the way we might expect.
God spares Ahab, but not Jezebel or his children.
Jezebel's gruesome death is recorded in 2 Kings 9:30-37.
This reality must have been a greater punishment for Ahab
than being struck down on the spot.
He had to live out the remainder of his days knowing
that his family was sentenced to make restitution for his crimes.
...you have given yourself up
to doing evil in the LORD’s sight
There is no way to hide from God.
Whatever good or evil is in our heart he knows.
We cannot deceive the Lord.
...pray for those who persecute you...
This is perhaps one of the hardest things to do.
It is not your first instinct to pray for someone
you are ready to punch out.
Remember, as Jesus was dying on the cross
he prayed for those who pounded the nails into his body.
Forgive them for they know not what they do.
It is not your first instinct to pray for someone
you are ready to punch out.
Remember, as Jesus was dying on the cross
he prayed for those who pounded the nails into his body.
Forgive them for they know not what they do.
In order to make progress on the road to holiness,
we must learn how to forgive first rather than as an after thought.
we must learn how to forgive first rather than as an after thought.
God is the one who decided what is just.
God is the one who administers the judgement and punishment.
God is the judge and the jury.
Dear Lord, please give me the desire
to quickly forgive those who have wronged me.
God is the one who administers the judgement and punishment.
God is the judge and the jury.
Dear Lord, please give me the desire
to quickly forgive those who have wronged me.
Daily Blessings needed to forgive first thing.
~~~Peace~~~
~~~Peace~~~
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