No Longer: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                                No Longer

                                                No longer can blame

                                                family traits, examples of

                                                notoriety

                                                good or bad

                                                now need to accept

                                                full responsibility

                                                not odd excuses to

                                                generate our own sins as

                                                natural habits

                                                finally acknowledge actions

                                                now accountable one by one

                                                grace accepts real truth.

Romans 8:29, “For whom he foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.”

Reflection: Not Say Again: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What is the most positive family trait that has been passed down through the generations?

2.     What has been the most deadly or embarrassing?

3.     How much of either type have you experienced for yourself? Or ignored?

4.     How have you used any of these traits as an excuse to yourself for failures or sins?

5.     Or to condemn others around you?

Not Say Again: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 29, “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on age.’”

Not say again,

Some commentaries say that this phrase is a proverb from Ezekiel used as an excuse for the sins of the fathers becoming the child’s burden or consequence.

Perhaps our modern version might also be the embarrassing relative no one wants to include in public events for fear of what they will reveal, or how they will act, or remind family of fearful characteristics.

Or perhaps we are the ones to inherit the “black sheep” struggles and are the rejected ones.

But the Lord says, “They will not say again.” He calls each person to be accountable now and no longer blame any of our actions, or reactions, on heritage or family traits or any other excuse we can attempt to manipulate.

From the Lord’s perspective we are each responsible for ourselves—attitudes and actions.

To Him. For Him. Under Him.

He who loved us so much that He went to the cross to remove the presence and power of sin’s grip on our lives. A new inheritance to remember and accept.  One to one. He has absorbed the cost of our sins for each of us.

Lord, please conform us to Your image and Your heart and Your purpose. Thank you for Your grace.

Your thoughts,