Saints In Disguise

Sunday school camp

Late post. Just After the Youth Service

Late posts

“Tell (the people of Jerusalem) they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven”.
Isa 40:2 GNB

At certain times in history there comes a point where people think afresh about a situation. Especially when war has ravaged a country and left it in ruins. After World War II someone in France thought it would be good if France and Germany could pool their industrial resources instead of perpetually preparing for war. It was the birth of what became the European Union, one of the strongest blocs in the world today.

The exiles from Jerusalem who had trekked to Babylon had suffered for a long time. They had been told it was God’s punishment for their sinfulness and disloyalty to him. Now God speaks anew to the exiles. They have looked back and suffered for their sins. They have confessed them. They have been forgiven by God. Now it is time to begin again, to look forward, to leave their despair behind, to find a new purpose and to move forward.

Maybe it is time for something similar in your experience. A period of disillusionment, sorrow, regret and sadness does not have to go on forever, even if your own mistakes or folly have caused the problems in the first place. Look at yourself in the presence and light of Christ’s renewing love and hope for you. Bring your problem, your negative feelings, your hopelessness and your gloomy mindset to Jesus. Hand them over to him. Ask him how you can go forward into a new future. Plan that new future, repairing whatever fences have been broken by the mistakes and follies of the past. Determine not to repeat the same mistakes again. Go forward with Christ.

PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, it’s time to start again. Help me to look forward anew.