[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 29

[Donnie Parrett]

DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY June 29, 2022

WORD OF WISDOM

Work today as though you would live forever, and live today as though you
would die tomorrow.

___

DAILY DEVOTION

God's Abundant Mercy


Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 55:6-8

The story is told of a desperate mother who sought an audience with the
Emperor Napoleon. When she was admitted into his presence, she begged him to
spare the life of her son, who had been sentenced to die for failure to do
his duty. As it was his second offense, Napoleon pointed out that justice
demanded his execution. "I don't ask for justice," the mother said, "I plead
for mercy." "But he does not deserve mercy," Napoleon responded. "Sire," she
cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it. Mercy is all I ask."
Napoleon commuted the young man's sentence, and his life was spared.
When we come to God, we do not bring proof of our innocence. We do not offer
Him something that would qualify us for His grace and forgiveness. Instead
we fall at His feet and beg for mercy-and God grants it. One of the most
amazing things about our salvation is the way God fully and freely forgives
us, even though all we deserve is His wrath and punishment. The sacrifice of
Christ on the cross made it possible for mercy and forgiveness to replace
what we deserve, and for God to still be just.
Whether we have been saved for a few days or for many decades, our gratitude
for what God has done should never wane. We should never lose sight of the
great mercy of God which is beyond our ability to fully understand. We
should never start to believe that somehow we deserved salvation. If we had
not received God's abundant pardon, we would still be hopelessly lost.
God's mercy is amazing, and we must never forget what it cost Jesus to make
it possible for us to receive it.

___

DAILY BIBLE READING

Psalm 126-130 New King James Version
A Joyful Return to Zion
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the Lord brought back [a]the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the [b]nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes [c]forth weeping,
Bearing [d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again [e]with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
128 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.

2 When you eat the [f]labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you see your children's children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Song of Victory over Zion's Enemies
A Song of Ascents.
129 "Many a time they have afflicted[g] me from my youth,"
Let Israel now say-
2 "Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long."
4 The Lord is righteous;
He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.

5 Let all those who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned back.
6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Nor he who binds sheaves, his [h]arms.
8 Neither let those who pass by them say,
"The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord!"

Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.

3 If You, Lord, should [i]mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning-
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel
>From all his iniquities.

Footnotes
Psalm 126:1 Those of the captivity
Psalm 126:2 Gentiles
Psalm 126:6 to and fro
Psalm 126:6 Lit. a bag of seed for sowing
Psalm 126:6 with shouts of joy
Psalm 128:2 Fruit of the labor
Psalm 129:1 persecuted
Psalm 129:7 armsful, lit. bosom
Psalm 130:3 take note of