Day 28 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 5:22-7:25; Matthew 18:21-19:12; Psalm 23; Proverbs 5:22-23
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Forgive again and again and again
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. – Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus instructed us to forgive – over and over again, just as He has forgiven us. If you read the rest of the scripture in Matthew 18:23-35, you will see this truth – If God forgives you and you refuse to forgive others, Jesus says that you are wicked!!!
Forgive – to grant pardon; absolve; to give up all claim on; to grant pardon to; to cease to feel resentment against; to cancel an indebtedness or liability.
The Forgiven Servant that Will Not Forgive
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. – Matthew 18:23-35
Great Multitudes Followed Him and He Healed Them There
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judæa beyond Jordan; And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. – Matthew 19:1-2
They are No More Twain, But One Flesh
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. – Matthew 19:3-6
Adultery
They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. – Matthew 19:7-9
All Men Cannot Receive this Saying Save They to Whom It is Given
His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. – Matthew 19:10-12
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Lord, why have You not moved – yet?
And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all? – Exodus 5:22-23
When I first read this, I thought Moses sounded disrespectful. But Moses saw his people suffering and had received promises from God about a great deliverance for them. Ultimately, he is asking. Lord, why have You not moved on behalf of Your people yet?
Haven’t many of us asked that very same question lately??? I know I have.
Now Thou Shalt See What I Will Do to Pharaoh
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. – Exodus 6:1-8
The Waters of Egypt Become Blood (Streams, Rivers, Ponds, Pools, Vessels)
Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river. And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. – Exodus 7:17-19
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He Leadeth Me in the Paths of Righteousness for His Name’s Sake
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:3
God will display His fruit (in your life) to your enemies.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. – Psalms 23:5
Your enemies may think they have you under their thumb and that you are defeated… but God will raise you with a great display and celebration right in front of your enemies.
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Sin leads to death!!!!
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. – Proverbs 5:22-23
The iniquities done by a wicked man will trap him, And he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction (discipline), And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray and be lost. – Proverbs 5:22-23 AMP
Sin may feel good for a season, but one day you will see that you are trapped in the “cords of sin.” You will die in that trap if you do not go to Jesus and ask Him to be Your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only One who can free you from the grip of the enemy and death.
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My God, I come before You this day, and I glorify You. I thank You for Your blessings and Your peace during such a season as we find ourselves today. Father, I thank You for Your Word today that has been a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I pray that I never forsake it and that I continue down Your path. I want to be right in the middle of Your perfect will. Holy Ghost lead me and guide me; teach me and fill me to overflowing with Yourself that I may be a light to this world shining for Your glory. Please show me and convict me of any wickedness in my heart that I may deal with it now. Lord, I pray for my enemies. I pray for those who despise me, and I pray that You reveal Yourself that they may feel the freedom and peace and joy in You that I feel. Thank You for my deliverance and salvation. Please help me as I question why some promises are delayed. Help me to have a heart that forgives entirely and quickly. Thank You for forgiving me! Lord be with me and all that read this post. You’ve ordered our steps today. Please help me to walk those steps faithfully. I ask this in Jesus’ precious and holy Name. Amen. Amen
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