SOMEONE BETTER

Isaiah 1:16-17

Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.

I would lie on the sofa face down. I started crying while my father is taking out his belt from his pants. And in seconds, I would feel the belt hitting my buttocks and I would cry more due to shear pain. I would immediately get up but I cannot immediately sit, so I would a while and continue to cry. I do not know if my tears is due to the physical pain or due to emotional pain. Having done something wrong, I would really deserve being punished. But having done something wrong would not be tolerated by my father. And just thinking about the misdeeds that I have done only increases the pain that I feel – physically and emotionally. After a while, when the pain went away, and the crying stops, he would approach me. He would console me and tell me why he did it. I would then ask for forgiveness and he would just smile. I knew at that time, that I was forgiven.

Since childhood, we have been told over and over again – do not do this, do not do that. For our parents know that as I child, we have a very poor concept yet of good and evil. So they have to lead us to the path of good and punish us if we take otherwise. Still, we hurt others, we hurt ourselves and we hurt God - we sin. Each and every one of us has done this at least a few times in our lives.

We have known what was right and what was wrong and still, we consciously, deliberately chose to do wrong. But our God is a merciful God. He is a loving God. As He sees the sins of the world, He would not really punish us by inflicting us pain. Instead, He sent His only son so He would bear the pain and die for our sins. We live in a difficult world, so we must make sure that God is in charge of our lives. He does not want us commit sins and misdeeds - denouncing evil totally. He wants us to become something better, seeking perfection as He is perfect.

Almighty Father, My God, I love You with all my heart. Pardon me the evil I have done, and accept the good I have done. In turn, help us forgive without holding on to anger, resentment, or disappointment. May Your love, joy, peace, and patience be at the heart of our relationships with one another. May Your grace be always with me and with all my loved ones. Amen +

“…to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”