Standing at the Window, Wondering - Homeword - January 11

Standing at the Window, Wondering

This devotional was written by Jim Burns

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. —Isaiah 43:25

My friend Steve Arterburn told a wonderful story that has a great moral to it:

There was a little boy and his sister visiting their grandparents on their farm. Johnny was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for 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 the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help," She whispered again to him, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. 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 had killed the duck.

Grandma 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. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

And so it is with us. Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done...And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ...whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

Today, as a follower of Christ, don’t allow the devil to keep you in slavery. Instead, celebrate the freedom found in Christ: freedom from our past sins and freedom to choose not to repeat them. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What areas in your life have you allowed the devil to rob you of your freedom?

2. Offer up a prayer to God, thanking Him for his full forgiveness. Take a step of faith today to begin living out the freedom you have in Christ.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 103:11-12; Hebrews 10:17-23; Ephesians 6:10-17

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