The Signed Pardon

Daily Scripture Threshing for Friday, January 5 2024

Today’s Text: John 3:11-19

Key Verse: John 3:16 (ESV): “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

In Revolution Within, a book by Dwight Edwards, a story is told of George Wilson, a man arrested for robbery and murder in a US mail heist, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. But because some friends intervened on his behalf; they were able to obtain his pardon from President Andrew Jackson. However, he refused the pardon and preferred to die. When the sheriff didn’t know how he could possibly dare to execute a man officially pardoned, he made an appeal to the President.

Then, the matter was turned over to the Supreme court in which a chief Justice ruled that a pardon is only a piece of paper: the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. Whereas anyone under the sentence of death would hardly be expected to refuse such pardon; since it has been refused, it is therefore no more a pardon. Thus, George Wilson was executed while his signed pardon lay on the sheriff’s desk!

John 3:16 is probably the most renowned verse in the Bible: That is why someone like you and me found room in God’s “whosoever” — a commonwealth of the pardoned by grace. God offered His gift of divine love to every person, a gift that not only provides pardon from eternal condemnation, but offers us much more. However, this gift of Christ must be personally appropriated to be personally beneficial. Like the signed pardon on the sheriff’s desk, God’s free gift of eternal life awaits whosoever would accept it, freely.

Quote for the Day: “Forgiveness is the highest fruit or form of love. God forgives us, setting His own rules aside as if they do not matter as much as the relationship He seeks with us." — Simon Olatunji

Prayer: Dear Lord and Father, I thank You, Lord, because You always remembers your compassion and mercy which You showed long ago, and You do not recall the sins and failings of our youth. Thank You for giving me the grace to accept Your pardon — through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA djistributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

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