Daily Devotional for Saturday, July 13

God’s Favor and Forgiveness

“I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee,” Psalm 41:4.

My dad passed away July 13, 2023. As I am writing this devotional, I am reminded about his life and how the Lord watched over him, changed him and blessed him. My dad had to quit school in the sixth grade to go to work to help support his family as his father passed away and was buried on his tenth birthday. Even though he had it rough as a child and left home at an early age, God was still watching over him. As a young adult just out of the military and having started a family, he purchased three houses and owned two gas service stations all before the age of thirty. However, he was not serving the Lord at that time and was not acting like a Christian should. Because of circumstances beyond his control, he had to sell all three houses and ended up losing both service stations during the gas crunch of the 1970’s. After beginning to lose all these worldly possessions, he began to go to church with his family. God’s favor and forgiveness became greatly apparent in his actions and life from that day forward until his death. He learned that God’s blessings are far better than what the world had to offer him.

When we repent, even ifwe are already saved, God gives us forgiveness, mercy and grace. His Word shows us, “He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him” (Proverbs 11:27). Whether a person is in need of salvation or just a renewed relationship with the Lord, if he is looking for the Lord, he will find what he needs: “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35).

REFLECTION
How is your life different when you are close to the Lord and experiencing His forgiveness?

Tim Chambers