OzThoughts Tuesday 17th March 2009.

OzThoughts Tuesday 17th March 2009.

(Please forward this OzThoughts to your friends).

I am always a more than little sad when I hear someone say that all Christianity does is make people feel guilty. I remember sitting with a Headquarters Officer looking at the Corps rolls and discussing the individuals on it.

On one list of people was a lady who never missed attending each Sunday Morning and to Home League. As we came to her name I remembered she had told me she knew this particular HQ Officer, so I mentioned the fact. At first, he did not remember her but then quickly realized this was her married name that we were looking at.

He then remembered who she was. He told me that they had grown up in a Corps together and they both became Senior Soldiers. He had gone to the Training College and later had heard that this lady had got involved with a fellow, became pregnant outside marriage and was promptly removed from Soldiership.

As he sat and looked at the name, he said “I wonder, I wonder…” Then he said to me “I wonder if anyone told her there was a way back.” He went on to remind me, an Officer in my first appointment that the way back was through forgiveness. We have a God who forgives and we must forgive, too.

The Christian message is one of forgiveness. How many times must we forgive? That is what Peter asked Jesus.

Matthew 18:21-35 (The Message)
21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."


[Listen: 1933 78 rpm recording Adjudant J Coulter with piano, cello and violins:

http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/MF224%20-%20(G21721)%20-%20Song%20-%20The%20Penitent's%20Plea.mp3 ]

Saviour, hear me while before thy feet
I the record of my sins repeat.
Stained with guilt, myself abhorring,
Filled with grief, my soul outpouring;
Canst thou still in mercy think of me,
Stoop to set my shackled spirit free,
Raise my sinking heart and bid me be
Thy child once more?

Chorus
Grace there is my every debt to pay,
Blood to wash my every sin away,
Power to keep me spotless day by day,
For me, for me!

All the memories of deeds gone by
Rise within me and thy power defy;
With a deathly chill ensnaring,
They would leave my soul despairing.
Saviour, take my hand, I cannot tell
How to stem the tides that round me swell,
How to ease my conscience, or to quell
My flaming heart.

Yet why should I fear? Hast thou not died
That no seeking soul should be denied?
To that heart, its sins confessing,
Canst thou fail to give a blessing?
By the love and pity thou hast shown,
By the blood that did for me atone,
Boldly will I kneel before thy throne,
A pleading soul.

All the rivers of thy grace I claim,
Over every promise write my name;
As I am I come, believing,
As thou art thou dost, receiving,
Bid me rise a free and pardoned slave,
Master o'er my sin, the world, the grave,
Charging me to preach thy power to save
To sinbound souls.
Author: Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 303

[ In preparation for Easter read a Christian book during Lent which is now. ]

Note: There will be no ATAW next Saturday, 21st March or OzThoughts from Sunday 22nd to Friday 27th March as I will be away from the computer.


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