From today's reading May 10, 2019

Daniel 6:1-15

It is amazing how when we read a story, we are standing back where we can see the whole story, but when it is our story, we are so close that we cannot see. King Darius valued Daniel and recognized his value in the kingdom, but when jealous advisors wanted to eliminate Daniel and plotted to use the king to destroy him, king Darius was blindsided. How often am I blindsided by the urgent? Refer to Daniel 6.

2 John 1:1-13

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

There are a lot of teachings round about concerning many things but this seems to be a very serious and precise word. It is definitely something to consider.

Luke 5:12-26

And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

In todays gospel from Luke 5:24 these words of Jesus jumped out to me. And later in verse 24 he says, “that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins”. Later in John 20:23 Jesus tells his disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld.”

In the daily prayers when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It seems to me that a large portion of our ministry to others may be to be giving forgiveness to those who need it. Just as I need it.

It’s something to think about.