In this podcast Richelle Hecker and Pastor Doug Brauner tackle the topic of forgiveness. They talk about lies as well as biblical truths concerning forgiveness as we hear the words of Paul to Colossians that we are to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us.
We are set free to ride the life God places before us.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 New Living Translation
Who would think of chaining a perfectly good bicycle high on an exterior wall?
Canon City, Colorado
This bike’s wheels were manufactured to make contact with the pavement. The handlebars were created to give the bicyclist the best body posture for the least resistance to the wind. The gears were carefully crafted so that the bike would move quickly on flat surfaces as well as climb steep hills. It wasn’t created to sit idly on a wall.
God has redeemed us to roam the world. Christ died for us, releasing us from our imprisonment on the wall of sin. He sets us on his path for life, yet too often we’ve become comfortably attached to our sin. Paul calls us to renew the way that we think. If we think that we’re a bike tied to the wall, that’s what we’ll be. If we continually listen to the voices that tell us we’re really nothing more than a motionless bike, that’s what we’ll stay.
You, see, that’s the way the rest of the world looks at life. Their behaviors and customs have tied them to the wall of sin.
However, Christ set us free from our sin and his Spirit continually works at changing the way we think about ourselves. There is freedom in Christ which people cannot experience on their own. We are free to roam creation as redeemed children of God. Sin cannot condemn us. The world cannot condemn us. Satan cannot condemn us.
So, let’s change the way we think and ride the life God has set before us. Besides, the bike we ride is a bicycle built for two.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
What does it take to be put out on the dollar rack?
I’m sure that many people passed by these clothes looking for just the right outfit and never chose them. Did they take them off the hanger, study them, and then say, “No, that’s not for me?” How would it feel to be treated like you’re worth nothing.
Canon City, Colorado
You might feel that the world has treated you as an item on the dollar rack. People don’t value who you are or what you bring to this planet. They say cruel things about you. “You’re too fat.” “You’re worthless.” “I could never love a person like you.”
“For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.” Psalm 22:24 New Living Translation
God will not reject you. He can’t reject you because of Jesus. The Hebrew phrase for partiality means to look upon the face, to make decisions about people by how they look. God does not show partiality. He doesn’t look upon the face of people to make judgments against them.
Jesus sacrificed himself for all people. He sacrificed himself for you. The Holy Spirit draws you to God’s heart where he sings over you. He made you. He redeemed you. He molds you. You are not a dollar rack item to God.
Yet, it’s hard to ignore the voices you hear in the world. It’s hard not to believe what they tell you. But, there is only one voice that matters; the voice of your Savior. He calls you his own.
