January 28

Today's reading in the OT  is from Exodus 5:22- 7:25 and in this section we continue with Moses and Aaron speaking to Pharaoh regarding God's command to let the people go and Pharaoh's continued resistance.  Pharaoh is unimpressed by the signs that God allows Moses and Aaron to accomplish in order to get his attention - because His magicians were able to reproduce them.  Even the first plague of turning water into blood....  In spite of the fact that they were able to use trickery or sorcery to reproduce the signs, they couldn't reverse them.  It is clear that there is significant power available in opposition to God, but it is not stronger than Gods!  If it were, then they could have reversed rather than duplicate... And how terribly gross to have that blood everywhere.   

NT reading is from Matthew 18:21-19:12 and is a great lesson in forgiveness.  How many times do we have to forgive someone?  Pretty much all of them!  Don't keep track, don't do the math, just forgive!  Why?  Well, because God forgives us without keeping track, and out of our great appreciation for His Amazing Grace and Mercy, we are to do likewise.  Forgiveness sucks sometimes.... we feel like someone doesn't deserve it, or that perhaps they aren't even sorry.  I don't think that lets us off the hook of obedience though.  We are clearly commanded to Forgive as Christ forgave us.  When it is hard for us, or perhaps even humanly impossible because of horrific circumstances, may we rest in the Truth that God provides all of our needs, and will even enable us to Forgive that which seems unforgivable... Just ask for His help, admit that you must, agree to be obedient....  In any event forgiveness does way more for us than it does for whomever we forgive.  To not forgive is like holding on to poison that just makes us embittered.  Why forgive?  The reason is never because someone deserves it, any more than we "deserve" the forgiveness of Christ.  It is because as His Children we are called to be obedient.  And the blessing is that it frees us and leaves it in the Lords hands to deal with.

Psalm 23 is the psalm today, what's not to love there!  The Lord is my Shepherd..... He renews my strength!

Proverbs 5:22-23 "An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.  He will die for lack of self control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness."