Mommies Magazine

Forgiveness

Posted on 13. Mar, 2009 by Rev. Kimberly Dreiman in Rev. Kim's Devotional

Today’s world has changed so much-compared to when I was a child growing up.  Now, here I am almost 50 and I find myself talking about the good times of childhood.  I suppose you are wondering what I am leading up too-Forgiveness of sins, for those who hurt us and for those who owe us debts.

Many years ago I was a child care provider and this lady and her little girl came to see me about day care services.  They had walked a long way and you could tell they were tired and weary.  I knew in my heart that she probably would never pay me-but I enrolled the little girl anyway.  At the end of the month-she gave me a check for 4 weeks of care.  They didn’t show up the following Monday and the check did not clear.  I thought about it and asked myself “What would Jesus do?” Would he turn it into the legal system or would he send it back to her with a note saying your debt is forgiven?  I did what I thought Jesus would have done-I sent her a kind note with the returned check-telling her the debt was cancelled.

Exodus 22:25-27 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a money lender; charge him no interest.  If you take your neighbors cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body.  What else will he sleep in?  When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.”  (NIV)  The Lord is compassionate-so let me ask you this-are you compassionate to those who fall on hard times?  Maybe, you are one of those people who spreads rumors about the person who is down and out-the Lord has placed it on my heart to ask you-Where would you be if the Lord had not forgiven you?

I believe most people want to work-but in today’s society-jobs are scarce.  I know I have been unemployed since November 2008.  I believe the Lord allowed this to happen to me to remind of the ministry I was called too.  You see in a matter of months-I lost everything on this earth I cared about-but where would I be without the Lord.  I have faith that the Lord will restore everything I have lost and continue renewing my strength to serve him.

So, today if you are out there and you are to the point that you feel like just hiding or you may be so desperate you feel like there is no point in living or even to continue trying-Stop and ask the Lord to help you.  Trust me when everyone leaves you and you are alone-that is the time you grow closest to the Lord.  Friends and family may leave you or forsake you-but the Lord will carry you through-if you only ask and give him the praise and glory.

photo credit: darkpatator