“I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE and not of evil, to give you a FUTURE AND A HOPE. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and FIND ME, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD…” (Jeremiah 29:11-14) The Lord says when you seek me you will learn to walk in love…
Paul tells Timothy to teach the church in Ephesus, that “…the purpose of the commandment is LOVE FROM A PURE HEART, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk…” (1 Timothy 1:5-7) Paul turned aside from idle talk and he said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has ENABLED ME, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I OBTAINED MERCY because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world TO SAVE SINNERS, of whom I AM CHIEF. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ MIGHT SHOW ALL LONGSUFFERING, as a pattern to those who are going to BELIEVE ON HIM for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:9-10, 12-16) Paul was forgiven and greatly used by God to write about one half of the New Testament!
David wrote this to show God’s mercy! “Bow down Your ear, O LORD, HEAR ME; For I am poor and needy. PRESERVE MY LIFE, for I am holy; You are my God; SAVE YOUR SERVANT who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And ABUNDANT IN MERCY TO ALL THOSE WHO CALL UPON YOU. In the day of my trouble, I will call upon You, For YOU WILL ANSWER ME.” (Psalms 86:1-5, 7)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham