Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.” – Ezra 9:5-7.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9.

Help – From Unexpected Sources

CIA hearings held in 1982 revealed that the Abwehr, Germany’s Intelligence service in World War II, had been seriously compromised by Allied agents. Allen Dulles, then chief of OSS, reported that 10 percent of the Abwehr was involved in passing information to the Allies. He even had direct communication with Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, the Abwehr chief. Included was some of the first information about the guided missiles Germany would deploy as the V1 and V2 rockets. Irreplaceable intelligence came to America and her allies from the very heart of the enemy. News of German decisions at the highest level were passed to Moscow, Washington, and London.

Sadly, Satan has such operatives at every level in a kingdom where the privilege of belonging should make treason unthinkable, But Christians find themselves, against their wishes, betraying the Master they love and benefiting the enemy they loath. One difference exists. Germans helped the Allies from their outrage against Hitler. Christians help Satan purely out of their frailty as fallen creatures. And one blessing distinguishes the two groups: if caught, members of the Abwehr would have been hanged or shot by an incensed government. Christians, by repenting and praying, have their sins forgiven by an offended but merciful God.

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved.