Picture the Bible Reflection for April 23, 2021
This week we’re looking at a bit of Isaiah. You can read the about it here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8%3B+11%3A1-10&version=NIV
I wonder about sin. I wonder what you think sin is. What kind of examples would you give if someone was to ask? I used to think that sin was about doing things that are wrong, like crimes or harming others. Over time it evolved to understanding that sin is anything that distances me from my relationship with God. For example, if I think of the ten commandments and pick out one, like “thou shalt not steal”, I look at the ripple effects. If I stole something from a store, it would cause the store owner and employees hardships. It would possibly cause a ripple effect in the community. But first and foremost, if I was okay to steal something, what would it do to my relationship with God? Could God trust me to do good? Could God trust me to be in community with others? I saw an image that reflected this as humans and it said “Trust, loyalty, respect. Destroy one, you lose all three.” How true that is for us. And yet, no matter what, God continues to have hope for us. God continues to forgive us. God continues to love us and encourage us and call us.
The hardest part about sin may be in the forgiveness, maybe mostly in forgiving ourselves and moving beyond it. I wonder if there’s a sin you’ve experienced and if you still hold onto guilt for it. If so, I wonder what it will take for you to move beyond it? How nice would it be for a seraphim to fly around, take a hot coal and touch our mouths and say “see, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” What if you simply heard within your heart that you are forgiven? Today, can you hear God saying those words to you? For sometimes guilt can be the only thing that holds us back from doing amazing things…
I discovered this beautiful song, “Be Forgiven” by Jackie Francois that I hope you’ll enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdaunfXCE9k
Today’s prayer:
God, you call us to amazing things and we give thanks for each day that comes our way. Help us to put ourselves aside, including any guilt, any history, any obstacles that are holding us back from doing the amazing things you want us to do. Give us what we need this day to let go of all of those. Thank you for Jesus, whose love and compassion, grace and mercy shows us that we are yours and that you will be there waiting for our return if we stray. Thank you for all of what you do for us, give to us, and forgive us for. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This week we’re looking at a bit of Isaiah. You can read the about it here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8%3B+11%3A1-10&version=NIV
I wonder about sin. I wonder what you think sin is. What kind of examples would you give if someone was to ask? I used to think that sin was about doing things that are wrong, like crimes or harming others. Over time it evolved to understanding that sin is anything that distances me from my relationship with God. For example, if I think of the ten commandments and pick out one, like “thou shalt not steal”, I look at the ripple effects. If I stole something from a store, it would cause the store owner and employees hardships. It would possibly cause a ripple effect in the community. But first and foremost, if I was okay to steal something, what would it do to my relationship with God? Could God trust me to do good? Could God trust me to be in community with others? I saw an image that reflected this as humans and it said “Trust, loyalty, respect. Destroy one, you lose all three.” How true that is for us. And yet, no matter what, God continues to have hope for us. God continues to forgive us. God continues to love us and encourage us and call us.
The hardest part about sin may be in the forgiveness, maybe mostly in forgiving ourselves and moving beyond it. I wonder if there’s a sin you’ve experienced and if you still hold onto guilt for it. If so, I wonder what it will take for you to move beyond it? How nice would it be for a seraphim to fly around, take a hot coal and touch our mouths and say “see, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” What if you simply heard within your heart that you are forgiven? Today, can you hear God saying those words to you? For sometimes guilt can be the only thing that holds us back from doing amazing things…
I discovered this beautiful song, “Be Forgiven” by Jackie Francois that I hope you’ll enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdaunfXCE9k
Today’s prayer:
God, you call us to amazing things and we give thanks for each day that comes our way. Help us to put ourselves aside, including any guilt, any history, any obstacles that are holding us back from doing the amazing things you want us to do. Give us what we need this day to let go of all of those. Thank you for Jesus, whose love and compassion, grace and mercy shows us that we are yours and that you will be there waiting for our return if we stray. Thank you for all of what you do for us, give to us, and forgive us for. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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