Shackled with Guilt

The only time I've ever been "shackled" was 31 years ago when I was accused of being involved in a speed chase in Coweta County. Of course, you know that this is just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time=)

About an hour later, after searching me and my car, being handcuffed and placed in the back seat of the deputy's car, they decided that I was not guilty. (I am to this day very grateful to the policeman that finally admitted that I was not the one that out ran him.) It is not a good feeling to be shackled!

Many people have never been shackled with irons but they are walking around "Shackled with Guilt". In Psalms 32 David relates how he felt when he was "shacked with guilt". He talks about when "he kept silent", or kept things to himself he felt weak inside. David relates how that he felt like that his strength was gone as if he had been in the heat of the summer. David relates how that it was like being in a barren land. In reality David was feeling guilty about his sin! Probably after the time that he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, killed.

Then David said, "Then I confessed my sins to you and didn't hide my guilt. I said, 'I will confess my sins to the Lord' and you forgave my guilt." (Psalms 32:5 NCV)

Thank God that we can find forgiveness through Christ and that we do not have to walk around "Shackled with Guilt".

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

"For he is good; and his mercy endureth forever" seem to be words that was sung repeatedly in Solomon's temple. In my devotion this morning I read the following story that I would like to share some of the highlights of the story.

1Tim Lahaye, in one of his more recent books (Jesus, Why The World Is Still Fascinated By Him), tells the story of a singer by the name of Kenny that goes into a high security prison to entertain. As he is squeezed through the doorway into the tight security area, the prisoners began in an angry voice to chant "Music! Music! Music!" This six foot five man with his cowboy boots on, trembled as he looked up to heaven, in one of the known toughest prisons in the nation, and prayed Lord, what do you want me to say to these men? He begin to strum a few chords on his guitar and before he realized it he was singing a song that he had learned as a child:

"Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so."

The prisoners began to chant again, but this time with tears flowing down the cheeks of many of the prisoners they were telling Kenny to sing it again! As he begin to sing again, several of the prisoners began to join in and sing with him. Through this song God had melted the hearts of many of those "hard hearted" prisoners.

My point is that God is good and that His love is everlasting and can melt the hearts of those that do not know what it is to have joy.

My older sister and I attempted to sing this song when we were children in church. I am so glad that a long time ago I learned the basic truth that Jesus, loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!

"...For he is good, and his mercy endureth forever..." 2 Chronicles 5:13

1Jesus, Why The World Is Still Fascinated By Him, pg. 146-148 by Tim LaHaye