Restoration!

January 15, 2024 Monday Message:

Psalm 32:5 GNT: “I confessed my sins to you; I did not conceal my wrongdoings. I decided to confess them to you, and you forgave all my sins.”

God’s desire is that each one of us would repent and return; that none would be lost. So when we confess our sins before the Father, his eye isn’t so much on the sin as it is on our restoration. That’s what’s most important to him. God is focusing in on our repentance. God is in turn dispensing forgiveness and restoration. Remember, forgiveness follows repentance!

Q: If God is willing to completely forgive confessed sin, what should we do? The answer is obvious. We should forgive just as God forgives! God sends our record of sin to the bottom of the deepest ocean; separates it from us as far as the east is from the west.

Therefore when a believer returns to our midst asking for forgiveness, our job is to offer complete and total forgiveness and restoration, no exceptions! Welcome the transgressor back into our community with open arms. Restore their pecking order within the Holy family. Treat them with love and kindness. That’s what God would do.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? The religious leaders dragged her in front of the crowd, demanding that she be stoned. “What do you say, Jesus?”

Our Savior showed the woman an abundance of mercy. “Let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone!”

At this point, I believe she was plenty sorry she ever considered adultery! It all ended like this. One by one her accusers dissipated until no one remained except Jesus and the woman. He counseled her, “Go and sin no more!” No anger; no vengeance. Just love and a second chance – a simple, “Make a fresh start and try to do better next time!” That’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship