The halfbaked Bard

Rom:4:7-8 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven. And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account. Quoted from Psalm 32. Written by King David. Immediately after being caught redhanded after the adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. David realised he has failed. He recognized that there is utter absence of his personal merit. He sighs inwardly to begin with, if at all God would cover my sin, how blessed I would be. He acknowledged the enormity of his sin, but it is also true that the imputed righteousness is even bigger. The compassionate love of his God is even greater. There is no sin dark enough. That God can't save you. There is no pit deep enough that God can't reach out to you. All you need to do is to just look back to Him helpless. If David would be forgiven. If Peter would be forgiven. If Paul would be forgiven. There is hope for you too, dear one. May be you would have done a more ...

Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. Acts:14:21. In Lystra, they were stoned and dragged out of the city. To Lystra they come back to strengthen and encourage.  What a commitment?  What love to the people of Lystra? What surity of their calling? They both go back to the very place that tortured them. To the very place they suffered. We would never go back to the very place! Scared? Hatred? Indignation? What if God asks you to go back? Would you give excuses?  Would you still love the person, who stood against you? Would you hate or love him/her? If you understand the truth that, calling is unto a person not to a place, nor unto people, then it becomes easy to forgive. Forgiveness is something which needs grace, much grace. If God could forgive me yet again, how much should I? For Jesus taught us to pray - Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.  Image credit: https://coriechu.com/blog/forgiveness-and-healing

But you offer forgiveness Ps:130:4 That is your character Oh! God - Forgiveness. The natural course is to deal with us as we deserve. The natural course is to offer punishment for the rebelliom that we do.  A God so loved us. We rejected His love and went our own way. For death and eternal separation is the natural course.  But rich in mercy and grace, He offerred forgiveness. That is His character. Grace is His hallmark, not cruelty. Though He is just; He is kind; He is merciful. Because He knows if He keeps a record of our sins, who could ever survive?  If it is your Father's character to forgive, why do you keep a record of all the wrongs done to you? Where is grace that is shown to you? Don't you want to be forgiven? Then why don't you forgive?  Image credit:  https://www.salon.com/2015/08/24/the_science_of_forgiveness_when_you_dont_forgive_you_release_all_the_chemicals_of_the_stress_response/

Jer:31:36-37 I am as likely to reject my people Israel As I am to abolish the laws of nature This is what the Lord says Just as the heavens cannot be measured And the foundations of the earth cannot be explored So I will not consider casting them away For the evil they have done I the Lord have spoken As sure as the laws of the nature are, so is His forgiveness. As firm as the foundation of the earth, is the assurance of His love and forgiveness.  Oh! He promises He will not cast me away, because of the humungous evil that I've done. Even though I have hurt Him repeatedly.  That is His character.  Whether I take it as a license to sin further or as an excuse to indulge in my own things or I go back to Him weeping and wailing, seeking forgiveness.  That is my character.  Everyone needs forgiveness. Everyone wants forgiveness. Everyone seeks forgiveness.  From the biggest murderer to the smallest liar.  Who might or might not get it from the ...

Jer:22:8-9 Why did the Lord destroy such a great city? And the answer will be, because they violated their covenant with the Lord their God  by worshipping other gods.  Punishment is imminent, if there is sin. That is the eternal law. For the wages of sin is death. And God being true, He cannot keep that aside. He is God who finds sin disgusting, who abhors rebellion. He cannot be changed. His wrath is instigated, out of grief.  But His everlasting love never fails. His love endures forever. So even before you would repent, He has extended the hand of forgiveness. But not at the cost of the eternal law. He could have overwritten it. He could have erased it and rewritten another one. But received upon Himself the eternal punishment, because He so loved you and me.  On the cross we see the conjunction of judgement, wrath, forgiveness, truthfulness, infallibility, inerrancy, abhorrence, grief, joy, hatred to sin and love for the sinner. In those eyes lie ete...

Isa:44:22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist Oh, return to me For I have paid the price to set you free.  Oh! What love?  What for has He done this? Why did He have to sweep me clean? Is it His responsibility or duty? Is He paid for it? Is He expected to do it?  In fact He would be right in judging me. No body would question. The prince of the earth would want it too. To doom me along with everyone, to hell, along with him.  But His grace is too good to be true. Without any conditions, He has chosen to cleanse, to forgive and to forget.  Why would He do that? Why would He sacrifice His own Son? Why would He take such a step to redeem me? Why would He love me like this? I don't have an answer to convince myself. I won't understand. But I know He has. His answer is love. I cannot fathom why He is mindful me. Because my definition of love is different from His, what He is.  And this alone i...

Telling God sorry in itself is difficult for us. Admitting your wrong to God, itself your pride wouldn't allow. Yet here is a group of people who put the axe on the root itself. ( Ezra:10) They put away with their pagan wives when they realized they have wronged. Apologizing to a person to whom you have wronged, it is difficult. But when the Spirit leads, just go ahead. That will only replenish you and reinstate you, not only to God and the other person, but also towards you. Matt:5:24. That has to be taken so seriously that the gift had to be left on the altar and the matter had to be dealt with personally. Why is it difficult? Because my pride wouldn't let me admit to some one else that i wronged. Let it go. Let yourself be free from the prisons of unforgiveness and bitterness.

1Chron:19 Hanun was foolish. When David extended his hand of friendship, in view of the loyalty of his father Nahash, the king of Ammonites. He contemned David and his men, based on others advise. It ultimately leads to war and bloodshed which ultimately leads to defeat. What could have been a peace treaty ends up as bloodshed. What could have been a long lasting friendship, ends up as war. All because of a foolish act of a single person. This same mistake Rehoboam, son of Solomon makes - 1Kings:12. Because of which nation Israel is divided into two and degeneration of the nation is triggered. One foolish act can ruin, the outcome, not just your life alone, but people around you, generations that follow you as well. Grudges that run along families. People staying with a common wall, but haven't talked to each other for years. Continuing to choose not to disturb out of that grudge. But.... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Wisdom is be...

Forgiveness is not about forgetting It's hard to forget as long as the hurt is still there It's hard to forget with the consequence staring It's quiet impossible as long as you live. Forgiveness is not about avoiding You are safely avoiding that relation You live as if that person doesn't exist You live as an elephant in the room. Forgiveness is not about keeping quiet Not about, not dealing with it Whenever it pops out, once in a while You smear that 'i don't care' smile Forgiveness is about loving him/ her Loving them as your own Being there for them when they are in need Loving and praying for them. "Father, forgive them' is about me When I was there to crucify, to jeer Him He still pleaded the Father to forgive me Even now intercedes. Forgiveness is not something you figure out It is a divine grace, as gifted by God I will not be able to forgive unless I am given the grace to forgive. Forgive our sins as we forgive Those who sin agai...

David forgave both Amnon and Absalom for the crimes that they have done. Even though they did not seek his love and forgiveness, he chose to love them. David mournes for Amnon's death and he also longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.  Forgiveness should come out of love, not out of the other's initiative to seek forgiveness. Let the first step come out from you. Because of love.  " Forgiveness is the best form of love. It takes a strong person to say sorry, but even a stronger person to forgive."

What is the actual denominator to confession?  To admit and say that what you have done is wrong. From the depth of your heart. Genuinely.  You can voice that out superficially too, without genuine repentance. With anger and rebellion still in your heart. You can even think of confessing it to God and not blurt out ultimately. You can even confess with your mouth and still hold grudge.  But true confession is what David did.  2 Sam:12:13. Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin." A confession becomes true and genuine when you see the outcome - The forgiveness of the Lord.  1John:1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  His word is permanent and unchanging.  Confession is not cowardice. Confession is in fact an ...

2 Sam:2:18 - 3:1 2Sam:2:28 So Joab blew the ram's horn and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel.   Asahel was said to be as swift as a gazelle and was chasing Abner, when he was killed by him. Seeing the death of his brother, Joab who was chief of David's army chases Abner. That is when Abner shouts out to Joab, "Must we always be killing each other? Don't you realize that bitterness is the only result?" V:27 Joab said, "God only knows what would have happened if you hadn't spoken. " He chooses not to avenge., for the time being.  Forgiveness is a choice, while bitterness is not, it is a natural instinct. Choosing to forgive and harbouring bitterness doesn't go hand in hand.  Do you forgive like this? Putting a full stop to your emotions and your wrong choices? That you realize, you are going the wrong path and choose to stop, blow the horns and turn back. If you haven't been able to yet, ask of His abundant grace. He will...

Gen 45:15 Joseph's brothers were able to talk freely with him, only when they understood that he forgave them. Whatever bad they had intended, Joseph has forgiven and has believed that it has happened for their good. Till now they were fearful, now they can deal with freedom.  Dealing with compassion and forgiveness, telling them it's okay, releases both you and them from the bondage of unrest, peacelessness, fear, worries and anxiety. If there is anyone who needs forgiveness today, it is you. Freedom beckons you. Choice to forgive others releases you. 

When the Holy Spirit convicts you of a sin in your life, why do you repent? Many of us still repent to escape the wrath of God. If I do not repent to God, will He punish me? To escape retribution. The focus is on the temporary. When we see the actual picture of God getting hurt and pained by our deed or thought; we have back stabbed Him. We have proclaimed our rebellion to a loving Father. We have declared our own way against trust. Have our minds bled out of this thought that I have hurt God? A genuine repentance finds you rushing back to a loving Father like the second son, wailing and crying (at least with a heavy heart) seeking forgiveness. A frivolous one is directed towards one's own self. A genuine repentance looks at God's heart; A superficial one looks at His hands. Or even at our own heart alone.  2Cor:7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. But worldly sorrow brings death. An everloving, everforgiving Father is al...

The last few chapters in the book of Judges are so unruly, pathetic, wretched, abominable and awfully beastly. A chosen generation? A holy nation? People set apart? After Samson, the people were living the way they wanted, whatever seemed right in their own eyes. But this is wretchedness at its peak. Why doesn't the Lord intervene? Why many awful things go overtly unpunished? Immediately after the book of Judges is Ruth. It's like God writing a new Chapter. Things do start with a bright new hope. Israel did not have a king to rule over them - God is setting the stage for a righteous king. Questions arise as to why so many sins go unpunished - God still remembers His covenant to Noah and because He loves His people, He is starting a new chapter of forgiveness - of Ruth out of whom David will be born later, out of whom later Jesus Himself will be born. However pathetic wretched sinner you are( we all are) God starts a new chapter of hope and forgiveness in Jesus. If y...

Num:14:19 In keeping with your unfailing love, please pardon the sin of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt. Next verse says, Then the Lord said, "I will pardon them" No sin is too great that God cannot forgive. No sin is too heavy the Jesus couldn't carry it on the cross. His unfailing love is the reason for the forgiveness you received. He did not wait for the Israelites to seek pardon, so that He could extent His hand of forgiveness. He just forgave them - because of His unfailing love. That is the epitome, because 1Cor:13 says that love never keeps a record of being wronged. Because of His unfailing Agape love for me, He doesn't keep a list of my wrongdoings. He just forgave. You might have messed up you life. Or you might not realize you have messed it up, but enjoy in the dirt, still lurking around sin. The choice that God has made, is to forgive your sins because He loves you unfailingly. What is your choice? What ...