Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

BAD NEWS - GOOD NEWS

August 17, 2009

I've got some bad news for us, and some good news.

Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws...
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving even though we have rebelled against him...
We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

-Daniel 9 excerpts TNIV

Bad News/Good News. The 9th chapter of Daniel is a bad news/good news story. It's just more of the same--the people of God promise to be faithful, but they are not. How many times in the Bible do people promise, make vows, to obedience and devotion only to break them. Is there any hope for such people? For us? That's the bad news. Yet breaking through the bad is the very best news. God's grace and mercy woos the people back unto him. Daniel prays a magnificent prayer in chapter 9.

The bad news seems to be a given. It's who we are. However, we must not be presumptuous with the good news. We must not assume, "O, throw up a prayer of confession, and we're good as new. God'll forgive us." No, the good news is for a fresh start, yes, but also that if we're as smart as we think we are, we'll finally get it, and start to flourish in the joy of God's grace, and following his path of discipleship.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson