“Nevertheless in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.”
–Nehemiah 9:31
The book of Nehemiah contains the longest recorded prayer in the Bible. In that prayer, we see what kind of God we serve and how his people responded.
Nehemiah 9:16 says, “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their necks and did not obey your commandments.”
Isn’t that amazing? They had a God who had given them so much… a faithful, loving, merciful, forgiving, and patient God. You would expect that the people responded in obedience to Him. But rather, the children of Israel ran off to serve other gods!
But, you know, this really is a picture of all of us. Because in spite of God’s love and manifold mercies, we all have rebelled and broken His commandments.
Every one of us has a personal history. And when you look at your past before Christ, and maybe even after you came to Christ, you may wonder, “How can God love and care about me when my life is checkered with failure, sin, and rebellion?”
God has every right to toss you and me aside and say, “That’s it! No more rebellion! I’m finished with you!”
But in his mercy, God keeps on offering his love and forgiveness. He hasn’t forsaken you. Even when you have not been faithful, he remains faithful!
God offers you complete forgiveness today, if only you will come to Him in brokenness and humility, and simply ask Him.
IF YOU’VE BEEN SAYING NO TO GOD, IT’S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE. ACCEPT HIS FORGIVENESS TODAY AND START SAYING YES TO HIM!
