The previous two newsletters started as follows:
The Bible is very straightforward and clear about your enemy, the devil: he is the father of lies according to John 8:44:
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies – NIV
Lie number 5: There are certain sins God cannot forgive
The devil is the one who tempts you and he easily succeeds in making sin look enticing. The moment he catches you in his web, it's as if he wants to destroy you with feelings of guilt. He steals your joy, and you end up walking around with a long face. Through his lies he lets you believe that certain things you’ve done, are just too immense and too bad for God to forgive. He then also reminds you regularly of the one or two frequent sins in your life with which you genuinely struggle. The feelings of guilt just pile up further. For the rest of your life, you have this burden of guilt and feeling dirty. Jesus says to a cruel murderer and criminal next to Him on the cross in Luke 23:43:
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise – NIV
Yes, God forgives in an instant when you truthfully approach Him with your sins and shortcomings. God's response to honest repentance is always forgiveness. Just ask Zacchaeus, the tax collector who cheated many people with their tax money. The petite man climbed a tall tree because he desperately wanted to see Jesus. Jesus sees his heart and goes to have a meal with him. He and his entire household receive forgiveness and salvation from a merciful Jesus, per Luke 19: 9 and 10:
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – NIV
In 1 Peter 5: 8 you’re again warned about your enemy:
Be alert and sober of mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour – NIV
You’ve probably seen on television when a large, vicious lion stalks, chases, catches and devours a buck. This is the image the Bible uses to describe your enemy. According to the dictionary, devouring means "swallowing greedily". Know that's what the devil wants to do with you.
Just don’t allow it: be awake, be on your guard - follow Jesus with enthusiasm and passion. And remember: through the grace of Jesus, there’s always forgiveness.
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