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There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was
given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods. He practiced in the
woods, but he could never hit the target.
Getting discouraged, he headed back to dinner.
As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he
let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He
was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile,
only to see his sister watching.
Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But
Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen
today, didn't you Johnny?" And then she whispered to him,
"Remember, the duck?"
So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma
said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help me make supper."
But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me
he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?" Sally
went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally
couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he
killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said "Sweetheart, I
know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But
because I love you, I forgave you.
But, I was just wondering how long you
would let Sally make a slave of you."
Author Unknown
I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy
keeps throwing up in your face. But, whatever it is, I want you to know
something; Jesus Christ was standing in the window and He saw the whole
thing. But because He loves you, He is ready to forgive you. Simply call
upon Him and ask for it. The Lord will receive you unto Himself and in no
way cast you out, because He loves you
(John 6:37-38).
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah)
he is a new creation (a new creature altogether);
the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away.
Behold, the fresh and new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified
For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins
and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.
Hebrews 8:12
Jesus says "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am
the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
John 10:9-11
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him,
steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced
by your brotherhood in the world."
1 Peter 5:8-9
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:7-8
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