Reflection on Exodus34:5–8
The
basic meaning of worship is to kneel or prostrate oneself on the ground in
recognition of the power, majesty and authority of the object of one’s worship.
Worship is more than assigning worth; it’s acknowledging that worth is already
there. When we worship God, we are responding to his intrinsic majesty and
goodness. That was Moses’ response when God passed by, revealed his glory and
proclaimed his name and attributes. God declared his compassion, grace, mercy,
love, patience and faithfulness. And since he is a God of justice, he also
pledged not to leave the guilty unpunished. The emphasis, though, wasn’t on the
Lord’s wrath, power and judgment—but on his love. When we hear of the goodness,
the greatness and the glory of God, worship is our appropriate response too. We
bow before him in awe and appreciation of who he is.
THE CHOICE OF
FORGIVENESS
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each
other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you
Most
of the ground that Satan gains in the lives of Christians is due to
unforgiveness. We are warned to forgive others so that Satan cannot take advantage
of us (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11). God requires us to forgive others from our
hearts or He will turn us over to the tormentors (Matthew 18:34, 35). Why is
forgiveness so critical to our freedom? Because of the cross. God didn't give
us what we deserve ; He gave us what we needed according to His mercy. We are
to be merciful just as our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). We are to
forgive as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:31, 32).
Forgiveness
is not forgetting. People who try to forget find that they cannot. God says He
will "remember no more" our sins (Hebrews 10:17), but God, being
omniscient, cannot forget. "Remember no more" means that God will
never use the past against us (Psalm 103:12). Forgetting may be a result of
forgiveness, but it is never the means of forgiveness. When we bring up the
past and use it against others, we haven't forgiven them.
Forgiveness
is a choice, a crisis of the will. We choose to face and acknowledge the hurt
and the hate in order to forgive from the heart. Since God requires us to
forgive, it is something we can do. (He would never require us to do something
we cannot do.) But forgiveness is difficult for us because it pulls against our
concept of justice. We want revenge for offenses suffered. But we are told
never to take our own revenge (Romans 12:19). "Why should I let them off
the hook?" we protest. You let them off your hook, but they are never off
God's hook. He will deal with them fairly--something we cannot do.
If
you don't let offenders off your hook, you are hooked to them and the past, and
that just means continued pain for you. Stop the pain; let it go. You don't
forgive someone merely for their sake; you do it for your sake so you can be
free. Your need to forgive isn't an issue between you and the offender; it's
between you and God.
Prayer: Lord, I stand amazed
at the example of Your forgiveness. I desire to grow in my willingness to
forgive those who have hurt me.
source:
Please will you urgently let me know where you obtained the picture at the top of the page of the man kneeling in worship? I need to locate the copyright owner in a hurry. With thanks.
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