"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope"
In the book of Daniel chapter nine, Daniel identifies himself with the sins and transgressions of Israel through his prayer and supplication. Through visions, Daniel perceived that the calamity that was to come was a direct result of the unfaithfulness of God's people.
"we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgements." - Daniel 9:5
It was God Himself, not the surrounding enemies, who had driven His people from their land (v.7). At some point, Daniel must have recalled the curse and oath written in the Law of Moses in Leviticus 26: 17-45 and Deuteronomy 28:15-58. Daniel's heavy heart of conviction remind me of how it must have been for the people of Israel when Ezra read the law aloud and "all the people wept when they heard the words of the law." (Nehemiah 8:9).
Daniel must have also clearly recalled to mind the blessed hope and promise that remained for those who "return to the LORD your God and obey His voice" in Deuteronomy 30:2. After Daniel's confession of sin against the Lord, he then begins to pray for what all true followers of Christ depend on in the daily victory over our sin nature through the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit - God's mercy and forgiveness.
"To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him." - Daniel 9:9
Daniel was a man who knew his God. In the light of his own sin and the people's sin, Daniel looked to Him for mercy and forgiveness. In doing this he did not seek to establish his own or the people's righteous deeds that the Bible describes in Isaiah 64:6 as "filthy rags." Rather, by faith Daniel submitted to the righteousness of God.
"... for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteousness deeds, but because of Your great mercies." - Daniel 9:18
God's mercy has nothing to do with who you are, but everything to do with who He is. Amidst life's trials, followers of Christ are prone to forget about the truth of God's mercy and grace. Through much anguish and despair, the prophet in Lamentations remembered and boldly declared:
"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:21-23
Dear follower of Christ, remember, "we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy in and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15,16). The Lord delights when we boldly come to Him to find grace to help in time of need.
Perhaps you are a person who has never known or heard about the everlasting love, grace, and mercy of God? You can find forgiveness today by repenting of your sins and put all your trust and hope in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
As the scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:11). Do not run away from Him, but come to Him. Chose life both for yourself and the future generations after you. Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - Romans 10:9,10
"we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgements." - Daniel 9:5
It was God Himself, not the surrounding enemies, who had driven His people from their land (v.7). At some point, Daniel must have recalled the curse and oath written in the Law of Moses in Leviticus 26: 17-45 and Deuteronomy 28:15-58. Daniel's heavy heart of conviction remind me of how it must have been for the people of Israel when Ezra read the law aloud and "all the people wept when they heard the words of the law." (Nehemiah 8:9).
Daniel must have also clearly recalled to mind the blessed hope and promise that remained for those who "return to the LORD your God and obey His voice" in Deuteronomy 30:2. After Daniel's confession of sin against the Lord, he then begins to pray for what all true followers of Christ depend on in the daily victory over our sin nature through the overcoming power of the Holy Spirit - God's mercy and forgiveness.
"To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him." - Daniel 9:9
Daniel was a man who knew his God. In the light of his own sin and the people's sin, Daniel looked to Him for mercy and forgiveness. In doing this he did not seek to establish his own or the people's righteous deeds that the Bible describes in Isaiah 64:6 as "filthy rags." Rather, by faith Daniel submitted to the righteousness of God.
"... for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteousness deeds, but because of Your great mercies." - Daniel 9:18
God's mercy has nothing to do with who you are, but everything to do with who He is. Amidst life's trials, followers of Christ are prone to forget about the truth of God's mercy and grace. Through much anguish and despair, the prophet in Lamentations remembered and boldly declared:
"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:21-23
Dear follower of Christ, remember, "we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy in and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15,16). The Lord delights when we boldly come to Him to find grace to help in time of need.
Perhaps you are a person who has never known or heard about the everlasting love, grace, and mercy of God? You can find forgiveness today by repenting of your sins and put all your trust and hope in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
As the scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:11). Do not run away from Him, but come to Him. Chose life both for yourself and the future generations after you. Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - Romans 10:9,10
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