Sunday Words of Encouragement March 30, 2014

Our Old Testament daily reading this week (Deuteronomy Chapters 9-15) was reinforced by our Sunday school lesson which was entitled “The Lord is your God”. When God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land it wasn't because they were good or deserved it, it was because He was cleansing the lands from the sin and wickedness of the other nations. God also displayed His power and His faithfulness to keep His promises.

I was mindful of these points as we celebrated communion today. As a child we attended Episcopal church where I learned certain liturgical prayers of confession that included the phrasing “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.” (*See full text of the prayer below.) As I matured and moved to evangelical churches we no longer did liturgical prayers. Yet even these many years later I recall that prayer because it is always true. I try not to commit overt sins but I know I sin by omission regularly. I do not deserve forgiveness since I am weak and disobedient. This is ever more reason for me to be thankful that God is merciful and, through grace (unmerited favor), I have been adopted into God's family by faith in Christ who shed His blood to cover my sin and pay the debt I could never pay.

I found this oldie goldie song that I am sharing today.
He Paid a Debt.

Verses for Today: (I these verses through verse 9.)
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.


I tend to think on this prayer whenever I take communion:

*Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Rite II of the Book of Common Prayer